For an hour, the Hocklyn ship continued to circle the small volcanic moon. Its scanners and sensors searching for any clues the humans might have left as to their technology level. Finding nothing but fused and twisted wreckage, the commander finally gave the order to leave the vicinity of the moon. Activating its sublight drive, the ship began rapidly to pull away from the desolate moon. After reaching a safe distance, another white vortex formed, and the Hocklyn ship darted inside. It would take the ship nearly three weeks to get back to its fleet base with the information about the humans.
Thanks to the information furnished by the human negotiator, they knew where to find four of the human’s major colonies. Those four worlds would be added to the growing Hocklyn Slave Empire. The commander knew that his superiors would be extremely pleased with this information. It could result in an increase in his rank, and maybe even the command of a heavy war cruiser.
-
In a nearby star system, Admiral Streth looked over the latest reports from the Vindication and the Avenger. There had been no problems with the jump. Leaning back in his command chair, Hedon made a decision. He would send his three undamaged cruisers to rendezvous with the battle carrier Victory. While he didn’t think there was any immediate threat of a Hocklyn attack, he wanted to make sure the battle carrier had sufficient firepower to defend itself if necessary. The battle carrier and her escorts would continue to patrol this area of space, and keep a close watch over the other mining operations in this sector. Fortunately, none of those were out as far as Stalor Four.
The StarStrike would escort the two damaged cruisers back to New Providence. Once the two cruisers were safely berthed in the shipyard, then the StarStrike would return to the home system. Due to the amount of time a message took to travel from Stalor Four to the home system, Fleet Command wouldn’t know for over a day just what had happened in the Stalor System. Admiral Streth had to return home to tell his superiors in Fleet Command that he had probably just started an interstellar war.
Chapter Four
The StarStrike exited the blue-white vortex on the outskirts of the Holden System. The seven planet star system held the human inhabited world of New Providence. Nearly 1.8 billion people made New Providence their home. New Providence was a Tellus type planet with large oceans and forests. The entire planet was habitable except at the poles, where mile thick ice caps stayed frozen year round.
“One quarter sublight toward the inner system and New Providence,” ordered Admiral Streth, allowing himself to relax now that they had made it safely to the Holden system. “Send a message to the shipyard that we’re coming in with two heavily damaged ships.”
The shipyard already knew that and they were expecting them. He had sent them a message detailing the damage to the two cruisers before they had made their last jump. This message was just to let them know they had exited hyperspace and were inbound.
“I have a message from Admiral Flaxen,” reported Lieutenant Trask listening to the com traffic that was now directed at the StarStrike from the inner system.
“That was quick,” commented Colonel Sheen, looking over at the admiral. “They must really be watching their sensors to have spotted us this quickly.”
“I have three inbound light cruisers and two flights of Talons closing on our position,” Lieutenant Stalls reported with surprise in his voice as he watched his sensor and scanner screens. “They’re several million kilometers away but are closing rapidly. They must really be pushing their drives.” Stalls shook his head, realizing that their recent contact with the Hocklyns had already caused some significant changes in system security.
“Increased security already,” Colonel Sheen commented with a satisfied look upon her face. “That’s a good reaction time.”
“Cruiser Hydra is demanding our identification codes,” Trask continued as she received another message. This really surprised her. Very seldom did any ship request the top-secret ID codes.
“Send the codes,” ordered Admiral Streth, nodding to Lieutenant Trask. The codes were highly encrypted and verified by computer in order to maintain their security.
Hedon had known Admiral Flaxen for years. He was currently in charge of the huge Federation shipyard that orbited New Providence, as well as the system’s defenses. The admiral would have taken the potential Hocklyn threat extremely seriously. That was the type of officer he was.
“I’m picking up a dozen light cruisers covering all the close FTL jump points in the system,” Stalls continued as his sensors reached out scanning the entire Holden system. He was surprised by the number of cruisers he was picking up. Normally there were half that number in the system. “I’m also picking up a battle carrier and several destroyers in orbit above the shipyard.”
Admiral Streth nodded. Due to the gravity from the system’s sun and the seven planets, there were certain areas in the system that were prone to receive inbound ships. “What was in the admiral’s message?”
“He is instructing us to dock immediately with the shipyard. Repair bays four and seven have been opened to receive the Avenger and the Vindication. He also has a new load out of munitions for the StarStrike which has been authorized by Fleet Command on Tellus.”
“New munitions?” Colonel Sheen spoke confused looking over at the admiral. “I wonder what type of new munitions?”
Admiral Streth was quiet for a moment as he pondered her question. “The R&D group has supposedly developed some new missiles for deployment. The missiles have been stockpiled at the shipyards and the two fleet munitions depots. There has been no authorization from Fleet Command for actual deployment due to no threat to the Federation. I guess that’s changed now.”
“We have a twelve-hour flight inbound unless you want to do a micro-jump to move us in closer,” Colonel Sheen said looking down at her plotting table that currently showed the StarStrike’s current position in the system. They could have jumped in closer, but they had decided to be safe so as to put minimal stress on the hulls of the two damaged cruisers.
“No, that would put too much of a strain on the Avenger and the Vindication. We’ve got them this far, let’s make sure they can make it the rest of the way. I’m going to go get some rest. I imagine that Admiral Flaxen will have a lot of questions to ask once we get docked.”
Colonel Sheen nodded as she watched the admiral leave the Command Center. She felt extremely uneasy about the next few days. The incident with the Hocklyns really worried her. Amanda hoped Fleet Command wasn’t looking for a scapegoat. They had lost Senator Jacksom, returned with two heavily damaged cruisers, lost hundreds of lives, the mining operation had been nuked, and they had been forced to destroy the Hocklyn ship. There was enough there if someone wanted to go after the admiral. It wouldn’t be the Admiralty they would have to worry about, it would be the politicians!
As the StarStrike moved farther into the system, the cruiser Hydra and her two escorts rendezvoused with them. The three light cruisers took up screening positions around the battle cruiser and the two damaged ships she was bringing home. The six Talon fighters made close flybys of all three warships and then headed back to their respective cruisers to land.
“They’re really checking us out,” commented Lieutenant Stalls, seeing how close the Talons had come to the StarStrike. In normal times, they would have been warned off.
“I’m sure everyone’s curious as to what happened to us,” Colonel Sheen spoke, her eyes moving to the main viewscreen, which was now focused on one of the escorting cruisers. “Can’t say that I blame them.”
Colonel Sheen continued looking across the Command Center. The atmosphere was routine as everyone went about their jobs. She smiled to herself, pleased with how professional the crew was acting after what they had been through. She planned on turning the watch over to Major Trist in another four hours. A few good hours worth of sleep was definitely calling out to her. She would return to the Command Center an hour or two before they arrived at New Providence.
-
Reaching her quarters, Amanda took off her uniform and spent nearly twenty minutes taking a hot relaxing shower. She wondered if she would have time to take a trip to Aquaria before the StarStrike sortied back out from the massive fleet base in the home system. It would be nice to get to see her parents and perhaps even go diving with her father. If this issue with the Hocklyns turned into a full-scale war, it might be quite some time before she made it back home again.
Stepping out of the shower, she dried herself off and then stopped to look at herself in the full-length mirror. Her brunette hair was cut short, but still slightly longer than what a man's would be. Her deep blue eyes stared back at her, and she smiled. She knew that blue eyes on a brunette were rare, but she really liked her eyes. Her body was trim and fit. She ran her hands over her flat stomach and turned looking at her profile. Her figure was nice, and it curved in all the right places. She wasn’t overly endowed, but that was fine with her.
She sat down and brushed her hair. Once they arrived at the shipyard it might be a while before she got an opportunity to rest again. Rising, she put on her favorite nightshirt and lay down on her bed. Even here in her quarters, she could feel the gentle vibration of the ship’s sublight drives. In a few minutes, she was sound asleep.
-
Admiral Streth and Colonel Sheen were both back in the Command Center watching the massive shipyard grow larger on the main viewscreen. There were three large shipyards like this in the Federation. The largest was in orbit above Tellus in the home system. There was another in the system of Beltran, which held the planet Aquaria and of course this one.
“Have you identified the battle carrier that’s in orbit above the shipyard?”
“Yes, Admiral,” Lieutenant Stalls reported. “It’s the Liberty.” Stalls knew that the Liberty was the newest battle carrier in the fleet. It had only left the construction docks above Tellus in the last year.
“They must be using some of the Liberty’s escorts to cover the probable jump points,” Colonel Sheen commented as she watched the viewscreen. She knew that normally the system had only six light cruisers and a couple of destroyers assigned to it.
“I have Admiral Flaxen on the com,” reported Lieutenant Trask, turning toward the admiral. “He is requesting that the Avenger and the Vindication dock first. They have a team of inspectors from Tellus that want to examine the damage to both ships so they can learn more about the Hocklyn’s weapons.”
Admiral Streth flipped on his mini-com, which allowed him to talk to the other admiral. “Admiral Flaxen, this is Admiral Streth.”
“Good to hear your voice Hedon,” Flaxen’s friendly voice came over the com. “That was some bad business out there at Stalor Four. I knew when I heard that Senator Jacksom was involved something bad was going to happen. He screwed up the negotiations with the Hocklyns, didn’t he?”
“I can’t say what happened,” Hedon replied noncommittally. “Not until I report to Tellus and get debriefed.”
“I understand,” Flaxen responded knowingly. “I have been ordered to give you a full load out on new munitions. Once that’s been done, you’re to take the StarStrike and report to Fleet Command.”
“What type of munitions?” Hedon asked curiously. Were these the new ones he had heard so much about? The order to report to Fleet Command he had been expecting.
“You’re getting the new Devastator class missile, which carries a ten kiloton nuclear warhead.”
“Nuclear!” Hedon interrupted his eyes growing wide in surprise. Warships were not allowed to carry any type of nuclear weapons. His report of his encounter with the Hocklyns must have shaken Fleet Command as well as the civilian government to allow the deployment of such weapons so quickly.
“Yes, nuclear,” Flaxen replied in a more serious voice. “Only the battle carriers and the big battle cruisers will be so equipped. You’re also getting the new Hunter interceptor missile. Those should take down any enemy fighters you come across. You’re also getting some better armor piercing rounds for your main railguns. I will be sending some munitions experts over, and they will go with you to Tellus. Their job will be to train your tactical people on how to use these new weapons.”
“I will have our people ready to load the new munitions as soon as we dock,” Hedon replied. It sounded like the brass on Tellus was panicking some if they wanted the weapons loaded immediately. This could have been done just as easily at the shipyard above Tellus.
“Hedon, just between you and me, walk carefully back at Fleet Command,” Flaxen warned in a concerned voice. “The politicians will be hunting for someone to blame this debacle on. Don’t let it be you.”
“Thanks for the warning,” responded Hedon, knowing that Flaxen was genuinely concerned. He wasn’t looking forward to explaining his actions to the politicians either.
“If this comes down to a war between us and the Hocklyns, we will need all of our good admirals. You’re one of the best if not the best we have. We can’t lose you to the politicians.”
-
Six hours later, the StarStrike had been completely resupplied with all the basics as well as the new munitions. Major Trist had overseen the loading of the munitions and their proper storage in the ship’s magazines. The Avenger and Vindication were in the repair bays, and the experts were already looking at the damage caused by the Hocklyn weapons. All the wounded had been transferred over to the shipyard and the more severely wounded ones were in the process of being transferred down to the large civilian medical centers on the surface of New Providence.
“I guess it’s back to Tellus,” Colonel Sheen said quietly, looking over at the admiral who was sitting behind his command console.
The StarStrike was still docked to the shipyard, and the last of the ship’s hatches were in the process of being sealed. Amanda looked at a console next to the plotting table and saw a green light flash on, indicating that the ship was ready to depart.
“Take us out,” Admiral Streth ordered with a nod. “It’s time we learn what our fate is back on Tellus.”
“Release docking clamps,” ordered Colonel Sheen as she stood with her arms behind her back, looking at the crew. “Helm, back us out slowly and bring us around one hundred and eighty degrees. Communications, inform the station dock master that we’re departing. Ship is at Condition Four until further notice.”
“Dock clamps released,” Lieutenant Jenikens reported as he delicately maneuvered the large battle cruiser away from the station. “Initiating turn with station keeping thrusters. Sublight drive is available upon your command.”
“New Providence Station is acknowledging our departure,” Lieutenant Trask reported from Communications. “Admiral Flaxen sends his regards and wishes us a safe flight to Tellus.”
“Tell the admiral thank you, and we will see him next time around,” Hedon replied with a nod.
On the big viewscreen, the station slowly began to grow smaller as the StarStrike moved away on its station keeping thrusters. The view suddenly switched to the blue-white planet below. White clouds could be seen floating in the atmosphere, and the blue waters of the oceans seemed to beckon.
Seeing the oceans displayed so prominently made Amanda feel homesick for Aquaria. It had been months since her last leave. New Providence was the most heavily populated colony. Even so, great care had been taken not to upset the fragile ecology of the planet. Huge areas of the planet had been set aside for future generations and kept in its original pristine condition. You could fly over hundreds of kilometers of forests and mountains and not see a single road or any sign of human interference.
“Safe distance for sublight,” reported Lieutenant Stalls watching his short-range scanners.
“Take us out at twenty percent sublight until we reach the inner markers, then increase to seventy percent until we reach the outer ones,” Colonel Sheen ordered.
The inner markers indicated a space out to nearly one hundred thousand kilometers where ship speeds were restricted. The ou
ter markers were at one million kilometers and indicated where a ship could initiate a FTL jump if it had permission from New Providence Station.
“We have permission for a FTL jump once we pass the outer markers,” spoke Admiral Streth, looking over at Navigation. “Plot a series of jumps to Tellus. Quickest route possible.”
“What do you think will happen once we reach Fleet Command?” Colonel Sheen asked as she approached the admiral. She knew that both the admiral and she would be required to testify as to what had happened with the Hocklyns.
“I don’t know,” replied Hedon letting out a deep breath. He folded his arms across his chest and gazed at his second in command. “We did nothing wrong Amanda, but the civilian government on Tellus is going to be highly upset no matter what. There could be a Hocklyn invasion fleet coming at any time.”
Colonel Sheen was silent for a moment. She knew the admiral was correct. Sometimes the civilians demanded their quota of blood when things went wrong, and they didn’t care where they got it. “The four members of Senator Jacksom’s party are being held on the shipyard. I wonder why?”
“I suspect Admiral Flaxen is giving us a chance to report first before he releases the politicians. That’s not going to make him really popular with the civilians back at Fleet Command.”
Colonel Sheen nodded and returned to her position next to the plotting table. As she waited for the ship to clear the inner markers, she shivered slightly. She hated dealing with politicians.
“Inner markers cleared,” Lieutenant Stalls reported as he watched his sensors.
The Slaver Wars: Alien Contact Page 8