CassaStar

by Cavanaugh, Alex J.

  The mood in the hanger shifted as the budding hope subsided. The senior squadron leader held up his hand to silence the discouraged murmurs.

  “Commander Kernen and I are not yet ready to send a pilot to his death without exploring other options,” Forllen said in a firm voice, his hands behind his back. “Destroying the disrupter core is our best option, but the Lathella is working on a plan that involves the Vindicarn’s engines. We will make a final decision tomorrow morning when the Clairius and the Jentara reach our location.”

  Urgent conversations broke out around Byron, and Ernx voiced his thoughts loudly in his ear. The words went unheard as Byron continued to stare at the screen. The disrupter chamber provided many challenges, especially as the exact effects of the core could not be predicted. However, none of those details mattered if the pilot was trapped inside. It was a suicide mission. Unless …

  “I can teleport in and out of that chamber,” he called, speaking mentally as well in order to be heard over the commotion. His words brought a hushed silence over the crowded hanger and those nearby turned to stare at Byron.

  “Son, I appreciate your willingness to try, but your teleporter’s power would be drained. You’d be unable to jump to safety,” Forllen explained, a hint of fatherly patience in his voice.

  Sensing disbelief in those around him, Byron’s gaze shifted to the commander. Kernen’s brows were furrowed, but he gave a curt nod. Byron straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin high.

  “I can jump without using the teleporter’s energy,” he proclaimed.

  His declaration was met with astonishment, and a wave of murmurs and gasps traveled across the hanger. Byron felt Ernx grab his arm, but his gaze remained on the senior squadron leader. Forllen frowned and he sensed the man’s annoyance.

  “Only one Cassan in 800,000 possess that ability …” he began.

  “One in 802,197 to be exact,” the commander added, stepping forward. His eyes met Byron’s. “But all we need is that one.”

  A hushed silence fell over the crowd. Those closest to Byron took a step back, as if afraid. Ernx released his arm and he sensed the man’s shock. Shielding his mind from the crowd, Byron focused on the commander.

  The squadron leader stared wide-eyed at Kernen. “Sir?” he inquired.

  The commander continued to gaze at Byron. “You really think you can do it, Officer Byron?” he asked, his eyes filled with concern.

  “Yes, sir, I can.”

  Kernen’s expression turned thoughtful. Byron channeled every ounce of confidence into his appearance, forcing doubt from his mind. The commander had to believe that his young, inexperienced pilot was capable of performing such a feat. His navigator would’ve harbored no misgivings, but Bassa was not here now. Byron had to convince Kernen without the assistance of his friend.

  The commander adjusted his position and nodded. “We’ll continue exploring other options, but an attack on the disrupter core will be our primary strategy. Inform the Lathella of our plans,” ordered Kernen, turning to his senior communications officer. “Squadron leaders, you will receive your assignments momentarily. Prepare your men.”

  His gaze returned to Byron. “I want to see you in my office in ten minutes, Officer Byron.”

  “Yes, sir!” he replied.

  “Dismissed!”

  Voices erupted around Byron, echoing in his mind as well as his ears. Ernx grabbed his shoulder once more.

  “You’re a jumper?” he gasped, his turbulent thoughts reflected in his wide eyes. Beside him, Nintal appeared just as stunned.

  Byron nodded. It felt awkward to disclose the truth. He’d grown accustomed to hiding his unique ability, but there was no concealing that fact now.

  Those around him began to press forward, voicing their surprise. Byron was bombarded by questions. Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, he kept his answers short as he tried to move toward the exit. He did not want to keep Kernen waiting. The mass of people surrounding him prevented his departure and Byron felt a wave of panic. More than ever, he wished Bassa were here to protect his young pilot.

  “Let him through!” a voice commanded just as Byron felt a large hand grasp his shoulder.

  Bassa’s friend appeared at his side. Deacer used his free hand to push aside the overzealous crowd while Hannar stepped in front of Byron and forced a path for the pilot. Ernx and Nintal joined them and the group moved across the hanger floor with considerable ease.

  As they approached the exit, Byron sent Deacer a word of thanks. Bassa’s friend chuckled in his ear.

  I always suspected you were a jumper, Deacer admitted, propelling him into the hallway. You’re a brave young man, Byron.

  Bassa’s voice rang in his head. It’s the right thing to do, he explained.

  He hastened to the commander’s office, but there was no reply to his request for admittance. Moving to one side, Byron leaned against the wall and waited. The full impact of his commitment hadn’t hit him yet, and he purposely steered his thoughts away from the mission. He wanted to prevent doubt from entering his thoughts, causing him to appear hesitant in front of the commander. Byron had made his choice and he intended to follow through with that decision.

  The light above the telepod across the hall flashed red. Byron straightened his posture as the door opened and Kernen emerged. The commander nodded and indicated the young man was to follow him into the office. Kernen moved toward his chair and Byron stood at attention on the other side of the desk. The commander dropped his computer pad, his expression weary. Leaning against his desk, Kernen stared hard at Byron.

  “Are you sure you can pull this off?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Byron replied without hesitation. “I can funnel my own power into the teleporter. I’ll jump in, deliver the payload, and jump out again.”

  “You’ll have to time it just right. The shields might prevent your exit.”

  “I’m aware of that, sir.”

  Kernen sighed, his shoulders sagging. “Son, there’s a chance the disrupter core might overpower your senses as well.”

  That thought had occurred to Byron, but he wasn’t concerned. “It’s a chance I’m willing to take, sir,” he stated, holding fast to his resolution.

  The commander’s chin dropped and he sank into his chair. Leaning back, he stared at Byron.

  “I don’t like suicide missions,” he admitted with candor. “I know you’ve suffered a great loss, but I don’t want you to throw your life away. Bassa was so intent on keeping you alive, son. Be sure you’re doing this for all the right reasons.”

  “Sir,” began Byron, his heart heavy. “Bassa gave his life so we might acquire this information. If we don’t take advantage of this opportunity, then his death will have been in vain. I couldn’t live with that, sir.”

  The commander slowly nodded, his eyes dark. Leaning forward, Kernen tapped several keys on his computer.

  “Your simulator runs with the Darten weren’t stellar, but you are proficient enough to pilot the craft,” he observed, his eyes on the screen.

  “I’d planned to return to the simulator again this evening,” Byron said quickly.

  “You will be permitted one run,” Kernen cautioned, his finger rubbing the edge of the keypad. “I’ll have them upload the schematics so you can practice your approach tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Completing his task, the commander leaned forward in earnest. “If your morning runs aren’t one hundred percent, I won’t send you,” he warned. “I’d rather not lose you in a futile attempt.”

  “I don’t intend to fail, sir.”

  “I hope not,” replied Kernen. “You still have much to live for, son.”

  Byron did not reply and kept his thoughts on the matter hidden. The commander dismissed him and Byron retreated to the telepod. Once inside the unit, he requested the simulator level.

  He understood Kernen’s implication and couldn’t deny the accusation. Flying held no real meaning without Bassa. Byron
didn’t know what else to do with his life. If he were unable to jump out of the disrupter chamber, then it wouldn’t be an issue. Byron knew Bassa’s absence factored into his decision, but he saw no other option.

  Risking it all sounded better than living alone and without purpose.

  Chapter Sixteen

  All squadrons participated in simulator drills the next morning and Byron was permitted unlimited access. He ran through the program a dozen times, memorizing the schematics of the enemy ship’s air vent. He had several close calls during the first run but performed his mission without flaw on subsequent attempts. Unfortunately, there were variables the computer could not predict. The exact conditions of the disrupter chamber were unknown, as was the certainty of his escape. However, only the success of his mission mattered to Byron. He couldn’t change the past, but he could destroy those who’d taken his friend and prevent others from meeting a similar fate.

  His hand ached from clinging to the throttle so tight, but otherwise he felt ready to tackle the real Darten. Byron reported to the hanger and awaited his squadron. Their assignment was to weaken the shields and ensure his safe passage into the ship. Before the four flagships jumped to the enemy’s location, Larnth wanted the men to perform a test run. Byron wondered how his fellow officers felt about their assignment and if any still harbored resentment toward the young pilot. His life would be in their hands until he entered the Vindicarn vessel.

  His craft sat apart from the Cosbolts, so he did not see anyone before the test run. Ernx conveyed a word of encouragement before the squadron launched and Byron clung to his friend’s comforting thought. He hoped the others shared the pilot’s sentiment.

  The Darten was the last to launch. His squadron quickly took up position around the tiny ship. Adjusting to the lighter controls, Byron followed the flight pattern, and he felt good regarding their approach. The lead fighters fired at a pre-determined location in space, veering off to allow the next line to take their place. The first wave circled around to form an outer layer of protection for Byron’s vessel and the ships surrounding his Darten formed an even tighter ring. The Cosbolts dispersed and Byron flew through what would hopefully be a hole in the enemy’s ship when they performed the maneuver for real. If they didn’t weaken the shields enough, his mission would end rather abruptly.

  The squadron performed the drill three times. Satisfied with their performance, Larnth ordered the men to return to the Sorenthia and wait in the hanger. The attack on the Vindicarn ship would commence in just one hour.

  Byron’s small fighter was towed to one side and away from the Cosbolts. He contemplated waiting in the cockpit, reluctant to face his fellow officers. However, the compact cockpit of the Darten was not inductive of a prolonged stay. He could not remain there for the duration.

  Retracting the canopy, Byron wiggled his body out of cockpit. As he descended the short steps, he discovered Ernx and Nintal waiting. Their greeting was friendly but subdued, and Byron sensed anxiety in his friends. Ernx inquired of the Darten’s feel in an obvious attempt to divert his attention. Byron offered a quick response, his eyes on the gloves in his hand.

  When he raised his chin, he was startled to see an audience gathering. Men from several different squadrons approached and he sensed curiosity as they gazed upon the pilot willing to jump into the disrupter chamber. The scrutiny was unnerving, and he shifted his stance. Perhaps he should’ve remained in the cockpit after all.

  Several members of his squadron came to his rescue. Flanked on either side by his friends and surrounded by fellow officers, Byron was guided away from the growing crowd.

  “You up to this?” asked one of the pilots, his voice gruff.

  Byron glanced briefly at the speaker. “I’m ready,” he replied, his gaze returning to the gloves in his hand.

  “You’ve got guts, young man,” someone else commented.

  Byron shrugged. “I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

  “What you need to do is come back alive.”

  Allowing his arms to drop to his sides, he raised his head. Hannar met Byron’s gaze, his expression unyielding and thoughts just as rigid. The pilot’s sentiment was echoed in unanimous support, and Byron scanned the faces of his comrades. So many had protested his presence when he first arrived on Sorenthia, but Byron sensed no ill feelings now. They were all pulling for him.

  “We’ll get you to the ship,” Wentar added. “But you have to get yourself out.”

  Byron straightened his shoulders, buoyed by the confidence in the minds of those present. “I will!’ he declared.

  It had not mattered before, but Byron realized he couldn’t disappoint his comrades. His squadron wouldn’t accept any other outcome. Byron realized his navigator had never accepted failure, either.

  He’d worried his comrades would cause him to feel nervous and distract him from the mission. Their presence had the opposite effect, though. Byron felt calm as they waited, his mind preoccupied with the idle chatter around him. He intended to survive, but it occurred to him this might be one of his last memories. Spending the moment in the company of his friends and fellow officers was preferable to spending it alone.

  As the time approached, all officers were ordered to report to their ships. Every man in his squadron touched Byron’s arm or shoulder before he departed, as if by physical contact alone they could guarantee his success and safe return. He accepted their gestures and encouragement with grace.

  Ernx and Nintal were the last to approach. Both pilot and navigator surprised him with a brief hug and thump on the back. No words were exchanged, but Byron sensed their feelings. They feared they would never see him again, although the men tried hard to suppress those thoughts. However, their feelings of friendship came through loud and clear.

  Returning to his ship, Byron wedged into the tiny cockpit and performed the preflight check. Satisfied the Darten was ready, he closed his eyes and ran through the flight plan in his mind. Byron knew the exact location of his jump into the chamber and visualized that point. He would use the teleporter’s energy to reach the core, but escaping the chamber all depended on the strength of his ability. That jump would be his greatest test.

  The first ships were wheeled into position. Warning lights flashed within the hanger as the Sorenthia jumped to the Vindicarn ship’s location. Seconds later, the command to launch the first Cosbolts echoed over the com. Byron watched as the next wave was placed into the launch tubes. His squadron would emerge last, relying on the confusion created by the other ships to approach the enemy vessel.

  Despite the rapid departure of the other squadrons, Byron found the wait uncomfortable and his anxiety grew. Sweat formed in his palms and his nerves tingled. Annoyed, he gritted his teeth and attempted to clear his mind. Now was not the time to doubt his abilities.

  You are capable of far more than you realize.

  Byron’s mouth opened as he recalled Bassa’s words. His friend had believed in him to the end.

  I just wish you were here now, he thought with a sigh.

  His squadron was called and Byron felt his ship move forward. Grasping the throttle even tighter, he took a deep breath as his fighter wheeled into position. The Cosbolts entered the launch tubes one by one until only his Darten remained.

  “Finish it and return home, Officer Byron,” a voice commanded over the com as the launch tube doors opened.

  “Yes, sir!” Byron replied, buoyed by Kernen’s words of encouragement.

  The Darten slid into position and he fired up the ship’s engines. Byron gazed at the end of the launch tube. Flashes of light were visible from the battle already in progress. Outside his squadron awaited the tiny vessel and their only hope for defeating the Vindicarn. Byron pressed his head against the seat and cleared his mind. He had to succeed.

  “Three … two … one …”

  The walls of the tunnel raced past his ship and then vanished as he emerged from the Sorenthia. Byron’s squadron converged on him at once, providing
protection from the enemy vessels. Several of his comrades were already fighting off Vindicarn, but Byron remained focused on their course. His target resided deep within the enemy ship.

  Their approach was hampered by the presence of so many ships. Fighters darted in every direction, firing at any moving object. It was almost impossible for the squadron to hold formation as they dodged incoming ships and laser blasts. Even the six ships assigned to remain as his side were struggling to stay in position. Byron followed close to the lead ship, relying on Deacer’s commands. He hoped the navigator in the ship behind his Darten was listening as well.