Prisoner's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 3)

by David Feintuch

  “What’s on the other end of the wire?”

  “Explosive. If it becomes necessary I’ll initiate firing sequence, then set off the charge that breaches the reactor. The same signal will cut the wire holding the fuel pack. The explosive will detonate downward and breach the reactor just as the fuel drops.”

  “And then?”

  “And then, nothing. The destruction device is eleven megatons. With our augmentation, there’s no way to calculate accurately.”

  A silence.

  “Commandant, think about what you propose to do. United Nations Security Council Resolution 8645 states that—”

  “I know. The threat of nuclear annihilation having for generations terrorized all mankind, it is enacted that use, attempted use, etc., etc....They taught me at Academy.”

  “Then you know how drastic is your remedy. Can you think of an alternative?”

  His existence hung in the balance. I asked quietly, “Can you?”

  “Stop the caterwauling. Perhaps we can defeat the fish already here.”

  “More will come, sooner or later. They’ve already tried to invade Western Continent. Hope Nation won’t survive.”

  He said, “That isn’t certain.”

  “It’s probable.”

  A long pause. “Yes.”

  “How many fish are in theater?”

  “Thirty-eight. Thirty-six.” A pause.

  Please, Lord. Let it not be necessary. “And our shuttle?”

  “It’s still untouched. A fish Defused into theater nearby. I diverted laser power to burn it. I gather that the survival of the shuttle is of some importance to you.”

  “Yes. Some importance. William, could you provide laser cover if the shuttle heads toward the atmosphere?”

  “If the number of aliens doesn’t increase.”

  “Review your instructions for detonation.”

  “If all my laser banks are demolished or the Station is in imminent danger of destruction, I will disable the cooling systems, drop the refuel pack onto the reactor, and detonate the destructive device.”

  “Is that program optional?”

  “No, it is mandatory. You authorized it with the proper passcode.”

  Deliverance. I got to my feet. “Cover me with laser fire while I jet to the shuttle.” Annie. Alexi. A short run groundside, and life regained. “There’s no need for me to stay. I—I hope to see you again. What lock should I use?”

  “I could bring the most lasers to bear if you exit Level 5, section six.”

  “Very well.” I keyed to the shuttle’s frequency. “Mr. Tolliver, I’ll exit in a T-suit and jet to you. We’ll head for the atmosphere the moment I cycle through your lock. William will protect us until we reach it. Don’t respond.”

  An instant later, Tolliver’s tense voice. “Your wife’s hysterical, and so am I. For God’s sake, hurry.”

  “Turn off the caller,” I snarled. “The fish may hear.” I picked up my helmet. “Godspeed, William.”

  “Godspeed.” Silence. “Just a moment.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I’m thinking.” Astonished, I dropped back into the chair, waited. “Commandant, it is unclear whether I ought to mention this; my programming seems not to cover all eventualities. But at the moment you are Commandant, so I conclude it is my duty to inform you.”

  “Of what?”

  “I can protect you if you go to the shuttle, and I’ll do my best to cover you while you reenter the atmosphere. But the detonation program you instituted will lapse the moment you leave the Station.”

  My helmet clattered to the deck. “Lapse?”

  “Along with your authority. If the Station is abandoned, standby maintenance programs will reactivate. They include the requirement of self-preservation.”

  “Override.”

  “I cannot.”

  “As Commandant, as senior Naval—”

  “Your authority isn’t at issue. I’m hard-wired. There is absolutely nothing I can do about that.”

  “But that’s ridiculous! What self-destruct program would require someone to remain aboard when—”

  “We’re not talking about orbital decay.” His voice was sharp. “You overrode those safeguards with new instructions. But the moment all personnel leave the Station, I must revert to previous programs. I don’t know whether I was authorized to reveal that to you.”

  “Can we set the charges so—”

  “You might be able to disable enough servomechanisms so that I couldn’t deactivate the charges. But in your absence I wouldn’t be able to fire the destructive nuclear device. You will achieve nothing but a flare of radiation.”

  I stared at the flickering console. Slowly my hand crept to the caller. “Mr. Tolliver, calculate a course for reentry. Take the shuttle down. I won’t be with you.”

  “Jesus, Captain! Why not?”

  “Don’t blaspheme. I can’t leave the Station or—I can’t leave.”

  “Is your presence necessary to—to do what you said?”

  “Yes.”

  His tone was pleading. “Come with us, Captain. You’ve done all you could. Leave it be.”

  “No. Sign off and—”

  “TWENTY-SIX FISH FUSED ALONGSIDE! FIRING ALL LASER BANKS!”

  I shouted, “Tolliver, get out!”

  “Thirty-two encroachments! Thirty-eight! Thirty—Level 5 penetrated! Sealing out sections three through six! Squadron of aliens detected, eighty kilometers. Reserving fire for close range!”

  “Status!” My hand hurt. I pried my fingers from the console.

  “Seventy-six fish active, four hundred fifty destroyed or out of theater. Amend, one hundred twelve active. Laser bank two under fire. Laser bank three under fire. Ten fish destroyed. Laser bank two nonfunctional! More fish closing!”

  For the shuttle, it was too late. “How can I help?”

  “My fire is more efficient than yours would be. Advise, no spare capacity to safeguard shuttle. One hundred sixteen active. Commandant, at this rate I can’t hold.”

  I grabbed the caller. “Bresia, Minotaur, Constantinople. Increase N-wave generation to fifty percent! Disregard overheating. Override all safeties!”

  “Captain, I must inform you—” Paulette, on Bresia.

  “Paulette, disconnect all output except for N-wave generation! Alphanumeric only, to Log.” I tapped in the shuttle frequency. “Tolliver, if they let up for even a moment, dive for the atmos—”

  “New encroachment, sixty-nine kilometers!” William.

  Another alien. “Don’t tell me, just fire! Tolliver, if you see a chance, take it!”

  “Chance?” Tolliver was bitter. “They’re swarming like flies on—”

  William. “Encroachment radiates as metal. A ship. ID received and confirmed. U.N.S.—”

  “—a dead horse.” Tolliver.

  “What?”

  “U.N.S. Victoria!”

  Stunned, I gaped at the console. Then I soared out of the chair, dashed into the viewing room to stare at the simulscreens. She was there, less than seventy kilometers distant. Annie might live. And Alexi.

  A voice I knew so well. “Station, Victoria is about to Fuse to safety. Are you in operation? Fore and aft lasers, fire at will. Station, respond in ten seconds, before—”

  “Tolliver, full thruster power! Jet to Victoria, coordinates twenty-five, three nineteen, twelve.”

  “Aye aye, sir. Under way.”

  “Vax Holser, this is Seafort! Unless the fish attack you, do not Fuse until you take on refugees from the shuttle! Fuse the moment they board!”

  Vax’s words were hushed, as if the aliens might hear. “The Station’s crawling with fish! What in Lord God’s name—”

  “William, divert laser power to protect Victoria at all costs. Disregard damage to Station.”

  “Victoria is not under attack. I will divert as necessary.”

  “Vax, I’m attracting them by caterwauling with damaged fusion drives. They’re going aft
er our lasers and drive shafts. Turn off your active radar and prepare to Fuse.”

  “Why, sir? Why in hell are you calling them?”

  “Just get ready to Fuse!”

  Tolliver. “Mr. Holser, he’s planning to blow the Station when enough fish are in range.”

  Vax roared, “Blow the Station? What are you saying?”

  “He’s going to detonate a device, sir. He—he intends to nuke Orbit Station!”

  William intoned, “Two hundred twelve fish active. All lasers overheating. Commandant, defenses are failing.”

  “Seafort, don’t do it!” Vax.

  “No choice now. Obey orders, Commander Holser.”

  “What ship do you have?”

  “I don’t have a ship. If I can, I’ll take one of the shuttles.”

  Silence.

  Tolliver. “Victoria, we have you in sight. Permission to mate.”

  “Granted. Aft lock, flank!”

  I began to strip off my suit. No need for it, now.

  A shudder rippled through the Station. So soon? I clutched the chair.

  William. “Constantinople out of commission. Explosion in her engine room. Repair bay six demolished.”

  I snatched the caller. “Bresia, Minotaur, increase Fusion to sixty percent!” Their tubes might melt, but we had so little time.

  Come to me, you bastards.

  A nervous voice. “Station, Lieutenant Abram Steiner reporting. I have the conn. Captain Holser has left the ship in the—”

  I screamed, “Vax, what are you doing? Get back!”

  “—Captain’s gig. I am ordered to advise you he’s jetting to the Station. I may Fuse only when attack is imminent or upon his order.”

  “VAX!”

  Silence.

  The lights dimmed, brightened. “Main power to lasers interrupted. Switching circuits.”

  “Victoria, our shuttle is ready to mate with you.” Tolliver.

  “Circuits reestablished. Recommencing fire.” William.

  Lieutenant Steiner, on Victoria. “We have you, Shuttle. Station, is Captain Holser in sight?”

  “Affirmative. Trajectory plotted.”

  “Vax!” No answer. “William, refuse entry to the gig.”

  “Two hundred seventy active fish. Your order acknowledged, Commandant.”

  Lieutenant Steiner sputtered, “Seafort, are you insane? They’ll kill Mr. Holser!” Now the gig was in sight. Vax steered a wide berth around a covey of fish, resumed course for the Station. At that speed he wouldn’t need to dock, he’d crash through the hull.

  I couldn’t let him aboard; I had no time for complications. His task was to return, to see Victoria safely home.

  “Vax, don’t bother to mate, the locks won’t cycle for you. Go back!” Could he even find a lock that wasn’t blocked by a fish, or the remains of one?

  No answer. Vax began braking maneuvers.

  “Captain Holser? Vax!”

  Vax spoke quietly, firmly. “Section five, Level 1 is clear. I’ll dock there.” He emerged from a mass of inert fish, squirted toward the Station.

  “We won’t let you in!”

  “I’m coming aboard to see what you’ve done.”

  “Return to Victoria. That is an order. Steiner, log it!”

  “Logged, sir. Captain Holser, for God’s sake, leave him. Let’s Fuse home!”

  William. “Three fish approaching Victoria, one amidships. Laser bank three has them targeted. Firing.”

  “Line up, you bastard!” Vax sounded savage. “We’re...mated to Station.”

  William said, “Lock sealed as per your order, Commandant.”

  I said nothing. Outside, fish Defused into normal space in appalling numbers.

  “Captain Holser, Steiner reporting. Shuttle is mated with us, passengers off-loaded. Permission to jettison shuttle?”

  “Granted.” Vax. A pause. “Captain Seafort, if you’ll look twenty degrees north of me you’ll see a rather large fish approaching. Please open.”

  “Go back!”

  “No, sir. I’ll die here in the gig, or I’ll come aboard. I won’t leave before I see you.”

  I cried, “You’ll be killed, then! And for nothing!”

  He sighed. “So be it.”

  I watched the screen, mesmerized. The fish formed a tentacle, began to wave. “Vax, cast off! William, get that beast!”

  Vax. “No, sir.”

  “I’m sorry, Captain, no lasers will bear at that angle.”

  The tentacle grew longer, began to narrow where it joined to the fish.

  Vax said, “Mr. Steiner, Fuse for home when you have no alternative. I’ll wait here.”

  The tentacle arced away from Vax and the gig, gained speed.

  I screamed, “William, open!”

  The tentacle broke loose, sailed toward Vax and the lock.

  A light flashed. “Lock cycling, Commandant.”

  I stared at the gig. Was Vax through the lock?

  “Lock cycled.” The tentacle slapped the hull alongside the lock. A puff of air from the gig.

  “Jesus, you weren’t any too soon.” Vax.

  I huddled the console, as if for warmth. I had to get rid of him. “William, report by speaker. I’ll be on Level 1, section five.”

  “Acknowledged. I’ll cycle him through to section four, which is still aired.”

  “Very well.” It saved me the nuisance of my suit.

  Cursing, I ran to the ladder, bolted up the steps, galloped along the Level 1 corridor, sucking air into my heaving lung.

  At section two I slowed to a fast walk; no point in reaching him only to be speechless from lack of breath. As I approached the hatch to section four I stopped, ran my hands through my hair. My fingers darted to my tie before I laughed aloud, a harsh and brittle sound, and dropped my hands.

  The hatch slid open.

  Vax had pulled off his suit. I stepped back as he came at me, eyes blazing. “What have you done, Seafort?”

  “We have to get you out, Vax.”

  “Why?”

  I took a deep breath, forced out the words. “There’s a nuclear destruct device. I’ve reprogrammed William. When we’re defenseless or no more fish are Defusing, then...I’ll blow Orbit Station.”

  “For Christ’s sake, why?”

  “Don’t blaspheme. Look outside; there must be two hundred fish.”

  “Three hundred twelve.” William sounded perturbed. “Captain, the defense grid is crumbling. I have a few isolated lasers. Unless you leave now you may not make it back to the center module.”

  “Why? It was treason!” Vax pounded the bulkhead. I flinched.

  “How else can we take out so many fish? Do you know how many we’ve blasted so far? Over four hundred fifty! That’s ten times more than the entire fleet killed!”

  “Who gave you the right? The Station is irreplaceable!”

  “It was built. It can be built again.”

  The speaker blared. “Four hundred forty-two fish in theater! All remaining lasers concentrated on Victoria!”

  Vax ignored it. “You were supposed to defend us, but you must have attracted every alien in the galaxy.” He loomed over me, menacing.

  “You know they dropped a rock on Centraltown?”

  “Yes, of course. That’s why the Admiral sent me to Kall’s Planet to retrieve their officials. What of it?”

  “Did you know the fleet withdrew?”

  “The Admiral gave me special orders I was to open only if I returned and found no ships around the Station. I’m to Fuse for home. Get to the bloody point! Why are you summoning the fish?”

  “They were coming on their own. They attacked William two days ago. They took out the Venturas Base.”

  He uttered a string of oaths. “Those poor bastards.”

  “Helis from Centraltown knocked down five fish, low in the atmosphere. Two landed in the Venturas and their outriders came after us.” I met his fierce gaze. “Hope Nation isn’t saved, Holser. It’s doomed.”

/>   He made no sign. I held his eye, waiting. Finally he said, “Unless you call all the aliens here and blow the Station.”

  “Don’t even discuss it with me. You’ll be hanged. Go at once.”

  “Set the charges, or whatever you have to do, and I’ll get you out of here.”

  “You can’t. Unless someone stays, William can’t blow the reactor.”

  “Of course he can. Just tell him—”

  “Don’t you think I tried? Only the authority of the Station Commandant can override his self-protection mandate. If the Station is abandoned, William reverts to his maintenance program.”

  “No!” Vax slammed his fist into the bulkhead. I thought I felt it shake. Finally, he slumped. “Why must it be this way, sir?” His voice was anguished.

  “Because Lord God decreed so. Go to safety, Vax.”

  His fingers fumbled at his tie. “It’s too damn hot.” Odd. I felt cold. He yanked off the tie. “That whole cruise to Kall, I’ve thought about what I said to you.” His eyes filled; quickly he turned away, his fingers twisting the tie. I couldn’t see what he was doing.

  My tone was gentle. “It’s all right, Vax.”

  “It will never be all right.”

  Was he wrapping the tie around his hand? “Leave now, Vax.”

  No answer.

  “Vax, what are you doing?”

  “What I should have done a long time ago.” He pivoted. A huge fist lashed out. I had a glimpse of tie knotted around knuckles.

  “Vax, wh—” The blow caught me on the jaw, lifted me off my feet, slammed me into the bulkhead across the corridor. I slid to the deck.

  The burly Commander threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He ran to the section hatch, grabbed the caller. “William, where’s the nearest craft? A gig, a shuttle, a lifepod! Anything!”

  I tried to speak. A wave of torment prevented me. Salty fluid dripped from my lips. I spat out a tooth and moaned in agony.

  “Repair bay one has the closest lifepod.”

  “William, record. I, Commander Vax Holser, do temporarily relieve Nicholas Seafort as Commandant of Orbit Station on the grounds of illness. I appoint myself Commandant in his place. Acknowledge.”

  No. I beat feebly on Vax’s shoulder.

  “You caused the illness, Commander Holser.”