Double Spiral War Trilogy

by Warren Norwood

  Frye allowed himself a brief smile. “Doesn’t sound like they’re too eager to fight, does it AOCO?”

  “No, sir…unless it’s a trap of some kind.”

  “Good thought, Marsha. But I don’t think we need to worry about a trap. Intelligence says that at the very best they can only have five launchships against our twelve. Combined with what we know about their methane shortage, I’d say they’re just waiting for us to come within striking range. Anyway, in a few hours we will know for sure.”

  “Are you surprised that Shakav Fleet hasn’t drawn them off?”

  “No. But I will be surprised if that action doesn’t draw off any reinforcements they might be expecting.”

  “Pardon me for interrupting, Commander,” the officer-of-the-bridge said, “but we believe we’re being followed.”

  “Followed? By whom, Lieutenant?”

  “Don’t know for sure, sir, but we’re picking up some standard Sondak-type navigation signals about half-a-day behind us.”

  Frye laughed. “That has to be normal traffic, Lieutenant. No Sondak warship is going to be sending navsignals if they’re following us.”

  “Could be, sir. We’re breaking down the inherent I.D. – ah,” he said,, taking a small slip of paper from one of the crew, “here it is. Oinaise registered freighter, number four-four-seven-alpha-two-two-nine-three, name Graycloud.”

  Marsha gasped.

  “What’s the matter?” Frye was startled by the expression on her face. When she didn’t answer, he repeated his question.

  “That’s my ship – I mean, our ship – Lucky’s ship.”

  Frye looked at her with surprise and empathy. Then he turned away. “Warn them off, Lieutenant. Send them a message to stay well away from Matthews system. Now!”

  “I, uh, sir, uh –“ Marsha stammered.

  “No,” Frye said. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Marsha lowered her eyes from his stern look and listened as the lieutenant sent the message. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  25

  “WE’RE TAKING A BIG CHANCE, NICK,” Pajandcan said as the first wave of long-range fighters left her six launchships.

  “If they don’t come out there,” Nickerson said, jabbing the printout with a slender finger, “or damn close to it, Admiral, they’re going to sub right past us.”

  “Maybe that’s what they plan. After the way they hit Sutton, how can we be sure what they’ll do next?”

  “An admiral once told me that nothing is sure in war.”

  “Don’t quote me, Nick. Not at a time like this. We’ve got over two hundred people in those fighters, and if the Ukes don’t follow your scheduled escape from subspace, we could damn well lose all of them.”

  “They will,” Nickerson said. “They have to. It’s the most advantageous place to strike Matthews from.”

  “Give or take a hundred thousand kilometers.”

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re monitoring them as closely as we can, and in an hour or so, we’ll know it we’re right or not.”

  Pajandcan had a vision of the Uke fleet bursting from subspace like an opening umbrella with her fighters caught directly in front of theirs.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  Pandemonium reigned in Sutton system.

  Most of the remnants of the defense squadron in space were doing their best to follow General Mari’s standing order. One by one they were being isolated and destroyed. The smaller of the two troopships had managed to completely discharge its cargo before being blown in half by Uke missiles. The other crashed to the surface of the planet still carrying one and a half legions – three thousand Planetary Troops who would never raise a weapon in Sondak’s defense.

  General Mari retreated to what passed for a secure command bunker just outside of Esqueleada, only to discover that half the pikean troops were in revolt, sabotaging equipment and stealing supplies. Much to Mari’s amazement, General Porras took swift action, and within hours, the mutinous troops had been captured, dispersed, or killed.

  But during that time, the first of the Uke landingships had started disgorging battle contingents around the city, and reports began coming in that the Ukes were armed with portable artillery.

  Mari didn’t believe that. Yet the continued reports, even from his reserve legions which had faced combat in the last war, made him realize that no matter what he did, Sutton was going to suffer terrible losses before succumbing. His choice was clear. Rescind the standing order, or live with those deaths on his conscience.

  Without hesitation he made his decision. “General Porras, I want the standing order repeated every hour on the hour on every command frequency we use. No surrender. Let’s show these Ukes what we’re made of.”

  “Yes, sir!” Porras said. “They’ll pay in blood for this one, sir.”

  And so will we, Mari thought. And so will we.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “We’re in trouble,” Lucky said quietly.

  “How so, Captain Teeman?”

  “Because that disturbance we picked up is a Uke war fleet, and they’re telling us to get the tensheiss out of here.”

  “Perhaps we should obey them.”

  “Sure. And burn out the Gouldrive in the process. How would you like to die of old age with me while we limp through normal space toward the next closest planet?”

  Morning Song made a fluttering noise through his proboscis. “My father would send someone to rescue us.”

  Lucky shook his head. “You just don’t understand, do you? Our subspace transmitter operates off the Gouldrive. If it goes so do our communications. By the time a message got to Oina, your great-great-neices and nephews would be receiving it.”

  “Then send the message now.”

  “That’s what I’m about to do,” Lucky said. “Then we’re going to see if we can find somewhere near Matthews where we can exit subspace without getting caught in the battle.”

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Three minutes till normal space,” the officer-of-the-bridge announced. “First attack flights prepared to launch.”

  Frye sat in the center of the bridge, watching and listening as the crew of Hondono went through their final exit checks. In a few minutes nine attack flights would be spewing from his launchships – six flights toward Matthews, and three flights toward Sondak’s defense fleet. In less than an hour the enemy would be fully engaged in battle.

  Externally he was calm. Internally the growing anticipation had drawn him tighter than guy wire. This would be his third triumph of the war. His second was already being well carried out by Shakav Fleet’s capture of Sutton. The resistance there had been minimal in space – as he had predicted. Despite the fact that Ely’s latest update reported heavy fighting on the planet, Frye was sure that, too, would quickly come to an end.

  “Exit…NOW!” a voice said.

  For a long second Frye stared at the screens as the image of normal space resolved into a clear view. “Begin launch,” he ordered. “All ships away.”

  Marsha stood at her station behind her father and observed the launching of a thousand and eighty light attack ships from the bellies of the launchers. It was a magnificient sight that caused a swell of pride in her breast. Without realizing it, she joined the cheers of the crew as the attackers disappeared from the screens on their way to strike Matthews.

  “ATTENTION! Attention!” A loud voice broke through the fading cheers. “Possible enemy ships, quadrants two and three closing at point-seven-eight.”

  “Sound General Quarters!” Frye shouted. “Alert all ships!” How in Decie’s name had the damned Sondaks guessed where he would be? “Deploy fighter cover!”

  “Estimate enemy force at one hundred…type Messerole Class long-range fighters.”

  Frye released part of his tension. One hundred Sondak fighters would be no match for his own. But Messerole-Class fighters? They must have come from Matthews itself, rather than from the defense fleet. Otherwise, how could they have enough fuel to return to thei
r launchships?

  He turned back to the screens and watched as the tiny specks representing the enemy approached in a well-disciplined formation. As the minutes went by and the specks grew larger, he had to admire the courage of those crews who must surely have understood that they were flying to their deaths.

  “Incoming missiles!”

  Frye could not see what the sensors had picked up, but he did not doubt the information. Already the first of his defense fighters had engaged the pitifully small enemy force.

  A faint tremor shook the Hondono. With a grim smile Frye forced himself back into the cushions of his chair. The battle had begun.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Contact! Contact!” the voice screamed over the speakers. “Eight…nine…maybe ten launchships. Bandits coming your way!”

  “Prepare to launch the second wave,” Pajandcan said quickly. “I want all ships away in fifteen minutes.”

  “But, Admiral!”

  “Shut up, Nick. It’s hit them now or get our butts blown from space. Take your pick.” When he didn’t say anything, she tried to smile at him. “It’s our only choice, Nick. Now notify Admiral Gilbert that we’ve made contact.”

  “Going in! For Sondak and glory,” a young pilot shouted.

  “Look out! Look out! Fire from the –“

  The scratchy transmissions mixed and overlapped through the speakers in the terrible excitement of the moment.

  “Fighters are out! Spread! Spread!”

  “Missiles away,” a calmer voice said. “That’s for Roberg.”

  “Turn that down,” Pajandcan ordered. “Ops? I want status on the second wave launch.”

  “Ready in nine minutes, ma’am.”

  “Launch when ready.” After the terrible monotony of waiting, Pajandcan suddenly felt as exhilarated as a young girl in love. These were the moments she had been waiting for. She only wished she could be piloting one of those fighters herself.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  Dawson sat patiently and waited as the Uke ships streamed in toward Reckynop. His defenses were set, but if he acted too soon, he would give them away. The best he could hope for was that the Ukes would think the planet was an easy target and get careless. If they did, he had a surprise for them.

  Reckynop was ringed with a thousand empty ships – freighters, personal craft, space tugs – every ship he could commandeer that was capable of being remotely controlled. These ships would lock their hodge-podge of lasers and limited missiles on any approaching ship not broadcasting the proper radio frequency and would fire at that target until it or they were destroyed.

  The radios were the secret, the same secret he had used to identify friendly forces during the defense of Granser’s planet. Admiral Y’Ott hadn’t figured it out then, and he hoped the Ukes wouldn’t figure it out now. And while they were coping with the remote targets, his personally formed defense force would move in behind them and try to get close enough to use their antique laser cannons and microbeam lasers.

  It was a desperate gamble, but it only had to work long enough for Pajandcan and Gilbert to strike back for him. Yet deep inside, Dawson already mourned the loss of lives they would all suffer.

  26

  “TRAILERS REPORT AN ESTIMATED THREE HUNDRED light enemy ships approaching on our last position, Admiral.”

  “Good,” Gilbert said with a smile. “Tell the trailers to observe and report from the safest distance.”

  “What will the Ukes do when they don’t find us?” Mica asked.

  “Keep looking. At least that’s what I hope they’ll do. Are the interceptors ready?”

  “We’ve confirmed Pajandcan’s coordinates. They’re prepared to launch at your word, sir.”

  Gilbert stepped over to the transceiver. “Attention all interceptor crews,” he said calmly, “this is Admiral Gilbert. You know what your job is. Pound the Ukes with all you’ve got. But remember to leave yourself enough fuel to point your back to Reckynop. We’ll do everything we can to pick you up.” He paused for a moment and then said, “Good luck, and good hunting. Commence launch.”

  The partially repaired McQuay shuddered in response to the launch of its interceptors. When they were all well away, he returned to the transceiver. “Attention all commanders. Prepare to execute Operation Matthews Return.”

  Her father had explained the plan to her, but until this moment she had not really understood what was going to happen. The tactics of it had eluded her before. Now she saw that the Uke ships looking for them in their previous position would be caught between the nonrevertor force and Reckynop.

  “New trailer report, sir. Enemy ships have split on orbital courses…One trailer’s lost, sir.”

  “Execute!” Gilbert said harshly into the transceiver.

  Mica flinched. For the first time she was truly frightened. They were going to engage the Ukes in a battle to the death.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Find them,” Frye said. “They can’t have moved far since that first sighting. Find them and destroy them.” He waited impatiently for the normally delayed response.

  “Sir…I’ve divided my group in an orbital search.”

  “Idiot!” Frye screamed. “Pull them back together again. If they catch you like that, you won’t stand a chance.” Again he waited – this time even longer before Group Leader Weavening responded. Honodondo trembled as another missile from Sondak’s suicidal attackers found its target.

  “Found them…sir…Pulling my forces…In Decie’s name, Commander! We have –“

  The speaker went silent. Seconds later, a barely audible voice came across. “Heavy resistance. Hundreds of ships. Concentrated fire. Losing –“

  Again the speaker went silent.

  “Who was that?” Frye demanded.

  “I don’t know, sir. One of the Reckynop –“

  “I know where! I want to know who! Doesn’t anyone –“

  “More enemy fighters, Commander! Same quadrant.”

  For the briefest instant, Frye felt disoriented. Where in the name of everything holy was Sondak sending all these fighters from? Then he caught himself.

  “Prepare to launch the reserve,” he said with great control.

  “Against the fighters, sir?” Flight Leader Trukken asked.

  “No. Against Reckynop. Can’t your people handle a few more of theirs?”

  “ – closing fast,” a faint voice on the speaker squawked. “We’re taking hits and they’re still out of range. Regrouping to burst formation in –“ Static filled the air.

  “There are hundreds more, sir. But we will handle them. Preparing to launch reserves.”

  “Damage report. The Bolen is out of action, sir.”

  Frye cursed. “Launch reserves.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “ – mander Charltos, we’ve broken through. Beginning missile runs on Reckynop. Enemy –“ Another voice died in static.

  “Reserves away.”

  “AOCO, I want damage reports from every ship in this fleet. Trukken, I want to know what’s going on around Reckynop, and I want to know now. Is that understood?”

  “Yessir!”

  Marsha sensed panic in her father, but immediately dismissed that thought. It is the battle and the tension, she thought as she took over the intership channel and started demanding the damage reports he wanted.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Damn,” Lucky whispered as they listened to the fragments of transmissions coming to them from Matthews system. “I’m glad we’re not in the middle of all that.”

  “I share your sentiments totally. But I do not see how this action of yours is going to help us.”

  “You want to go busting in there? Well, neither do I. So we cruise for a while in normal space, then pop a short warp into Reckynop when things settle down a little.”

  “What if the Ukas win?” Morning Song asked.

  “We don’t have any choice, my friend. Your father said they couldn’t get anyone here for a month. And what’s thi
s shortage of brolkers have to do with us?”

  “Bolkers, Captain Teeman. Bolkers. They are, how shall I say this? They are what you might call servants, and it is they who provide the majority of our navigators. It is a rare ship that does not fly without a bolker. But their population, unfortunately, has failed to keep up with our need for them, so the bolker shortage –“

  “I don’t need a lesson on your society, just the facts. No bolkers, no rescue and repair mission.”

  “That is correct, Captain.”

  “Then why can’t you understand what I’m doing?”

  “Because, humans at their best are most difficult to understand, and I fear that the stress on you cause by the problems with the Gouldrive has kept you from being your best.”

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “Sutton’s under heavy bombardment, Admiral. According to Mari, the Uke forces are landing by the thousands.”

  Stonefield frowned. “What about Roberg?”

  “Their report just passed through relay. No signs of enemy activity.” Vindication of his position gave Rochmon little pleasure. Despite the dry simplicity of Mari’s reports, they smelled of death and blood.

  “Well, Hilldill? What do you think? Should we try to send reinforcements to Bakke? Or do you think it is too early to make a decision?”

  “It’s still too early,” Avitor Hilldill said firmly. “If we respond too quickly, we could be falling into a Uke trap.”

  “Begging the Avitor’s pardon,” Admiral Eresser said, “but I think you are most wrong. If we do not respond now, we could lose Bakke as well as Sutton. Then what’s to keep them from moving on to Satterfield and Wallbank – or Yaffee?”

  “The contingents of Planetary Troops are already –“

  “I’m talking about space reinforcements,” Eresser said with an uncharacteristic glare in her eyes. “I’m talking about putting some muscle behind POLFLEET.”

  “We understand your concern,” Stonefield said, “but we cannot rush into this decision. The remainder of us will be here within a day, and I think this is a decision for the full Joint Chiefs.”