“Ricket … do you ever sleep?” Boomer asked.
He stopped working to think about it. “I do. Not often, but yes … I do, Boomer. Thank you for asking.”
“How long before all this is installed … useable?” Jason asked.
“Just as soon as these cases are delivered to the bridge and the lids are opened. There is no hard-wiring necessary.” Ricket then reached up, setting another case on Jason’s stack.
* * *
Two hours later, Ricket was finally satisfied with the controls functionality in the new temporary bridge setup. Even before asked, he tested then retested every aspect of the installation.
Captain Perkins took a seat in the ripped, and singed, captain’s chair. Gazing around the compartment, he turned to Jason and said, “It’s a start … I guess.”
“It’ll have to be. I’m out of here in two minutes. You’re good then, okay with the plan?”
“Think so. I’ll call up an interchange wormhole and pilot the Minian back to Sol. I’ll stay put there, close to the moon, and wait for the next Star Watch ship to arrive. Then the next, followed by the next, and so on. Do my damned best to get every ship battle-ready. Also keep in contact with you … prepare for battle.”
“That’s about it,” Jason said, nodding. “Understand, the Sommis of Adriark fleet will be showing up soon. Could be in the next few hours. We’ll need at least five Star Watch vessels to provide an effective defense here. But based on how long it took us to get only the Minian operational, I’m not so sure we’ll have anywhere close to that number. We’re off to check out the Leo next, so expect to see her soon.”
“Understood,” Captain Perkins said.
“Listen … when you arrive within the Sol System you’ll be hailed by Liberty Station. They have their comms operational enough for in-system hails. You’ll be hearing from Admiral Mayweather … he’s taken up command with the Omni missing. He’ll order you to the font line. I can’t tell you outright to disobey an executive order.”
“I’ll think of something,” Perkins said.
Then, without warning, the deck began to tremble. Thunderingly-loud footfalls drew everyone’s attention to the bridge’s entranceway. As Boomer reached back for her shield, four bright blue Caldurian Battle Droids entered the bridge single file. Marching like oversized soldiers, they halted along the compartments portside then, turning in unison, squared-off before Jason and Perkins.
“Shit, those things are scary-looking,” Perkins said.
Jason, noticing Perkins rising to his feet, said, “I’m leaving one of them here with you. I can’t foresee you needing any protection, but I want to play it safe. I’m hoping the other Star Watch ships’ crewmembers are alive and well, so they eventually can be transported to the Minian to support your efforts once you return to Sol.”
Perkins nodded, not taking his eyes off the droids. When he finally turned back to face Jason, he said, “Thanks, Captain. For everything.”
Jason, giving him a perfunctory nod, began to count heads: Ricket, Boomer, the two recruits were all standing ready, their combat suits initialized. He configured his HUD settings for eight—a group phase-shift that included the three Caldurian Battle Droids. He then hailed Ryan on the Parcical.
“Go for Ryan.”
“We’re on our way back to you. Set a course for District Four … the Craing star system.”
Chapter 32
When exiting the interchange wormhole, deep within Craing space, they found themselves in the middle of what looked to be an apocalyptic event. As explosions erupted both left and right of the Parcical, Jason took in the full-scale battle raging all around them.
“Tactical … what’s happening?”
“The Leo is at the center of an assault, Captain,” Ricket said.
Jason noted several attacking warships—large Craing heavy cruisers. They looked newer than any of the Craing ships operational within the U.S. Fleet. But how was this possible? He felt the effects of adrenalin pulsing into his bloodstream. The Craing, defeated years back, had their entire fleet confiscated as spoils of war. The Craing’s surrender decree barred them from ever building war machines like those fighting now. It appeared obvious the Craing were once again being deceptive, duplicitous in nature. Taking advantage of the Alliance’s current weakened state.
Ricket said, “There are twelve Craing heavy cruisers, plus two hundred Craing drone fighters on the attack, Captain. Sensor readings tell me one Craing heavy cruiser was taken out of action.”
“What’s the current disposition of the Leo?”
“Substantial damage, Captain. Decks four, five, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-three … are all open to space … numerous breaches. The Leo was forced into battle with minimal shields and without much of their more effective Caldurian weaponry. They do have limited use of conventional plasma cannons … that and the battle started only minutes ago, Captain.”
“It’s a miracle they were able to stay in the fight even that long,” Jason said, taking in the logistical feed of nearby Craing space. Three Craing warships were now changing course, heading toward the Parcical.
“Incoming!” Ryan shouted, pointing to the display feed. “They have a missile lock on us, Captain.”
Jason watched as countless bright red dots steadily made their way across the expanse of space. The Parcical, practically invisible to enemy sensors, was not an easy ship to lock on to. “Tactical … Fire off a volley of a thousand fusion-tipped missiles. I want proximity explosions … destinations at the one-thousand-mile mark. Make a wall of hellfire that nothing gets through.”
“Yes, Captain,” Ricket said, complying.
Jason felt the subtle thump thump thump through the deck underneath him, pulsing as JIT munitions were fired out from the Parcical’s forward cannons.
“What the hell are those?” Ryan asked, pointing to the display.
Jason’s fists clenched tight, to the point his knuckles turned white. “That’s a new Meganaught … and it’s a hell of a lot more ship than we can handle.” Jesus, how could that even be? “Ricket, how far out is that … thing?”
“Ten minutes, Captain. Maybe fifteen, if we can slow it down.”
“First start working on some of those heavy cruisers, Ricket. How many unmanned drones do we have ready?”
“Full complement. Two hundred and fifty, Captain.”
“Get them deployed … now! Ryan, it’s time we work on your tactical skills.”
“I’m not anywhere close to what Ricket can do.”
“Just keep firing everything we’ve got. I don’t plan on us being gone any longer than necessary. This is a battle we cannot win. Phase-shift away when necessary … avoid and evade.”
“Oh my,” Ricket said. “A second inbound fleet of fifteen heavy cruisers is also estimated to arrive … it is less than twenty minutes out, Captain.”
“A Meganaught in ten minutes, and another fleet of heavies within twenty? We’ll have to be long gone by then,” Jason said, experiencing second thoughts about leaving Ryan to fend alone on tactical.
“I expect you to do your very best, Ryan. No going toe-to-toe with the enemy, understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I need to accompany Ricket to the Leo … get her defenses back up. No doubt two Star Watch warships will have a hell of a lot better odds at fighting back this onslaught than one. Someone will relieve you as soon as I’m over there and can better assess the Leo’s situation.”
Jason watched Ricket give Ryan some last-minute instructions. “We have to leave now,” he urged, hurrying into the Parcical’s main corridor. Boomer, the two recruits, and the three Caldurian battle droids were already there, waiting for them. Ricket rushed in, then initialized his combat suit. Recruit Scott handed Jason a spare multi-gun.
* * *
Jason selected the same drop location, right outside the Leo’s bridge, for them to group phase-shift into.
Alarm klaxons were blaring on the Leo with crew personnel
scurrying everywhere. It was a miracle that their incoming phase-shift hadn’t displaced some unlucky crewmember’s physical mass. Jason hurried onto the bridge and found every post manned. No battle droids.
The tactical officer yelled, “Rear starboard plasma cannon is overheating, Captain!” Then, noticing Jason he said … “Who the hell …”
Grimes spun the captain’s chair around, a surprised expression on her face.
“Thought you might need some help,” Jason said, gesturing toward the wraparound display and the raging battle going on outside.
“Yes, Captain, your help will be most appreciated,” she said, relief in her voice and showing on her face. “Where in God’s name did you come from anyway?”
Ricket, standing behind Jason, hurried toward an open slot between comms and tactical. Lifting up the small case he carried, he placed it onto the board, then went right to work.
Jason looked about the bridge. “No Caldurian battle droids dropping by yet?”
Grimes shook her head, confused by the question.
Ricket asked, “Which systems first, Captain?” Jason and Grimes, simultaneously, yelled out, “Weapons!”
Jason spun around to face the corridor. “Boomer, leave one of the droids here, take the others, and get down to Hold #27. See if any sleeping beauties have awakened.”
“We’re on it.” The five flashed away together.
Ricket said, “Weapons coming online now, Captain.”
“Get the Leo’s shields up, Ricket,” Grimes commanded, spinning back around to view the display—the ongoing raging battle outside. “We’re at war with the damn Craing again!” she yelled out in anger.
“It’s worse than that, if possible. The Planetary Alliance is in trouble … deep trouble,” Jason said.
Jason moved to the first officer’s command chair, set slightly behind the captain’s chair. He watched her work for a moment—issuing commands to bridge officers. Back to cool, calm, and collected. He felt a wave of pride, noticing how proficient the young captain was—how much she’d grown in her present position. She was part of his crew back on The Lilly, and before that, a Top Gun Navy fighter pilot. Five foot two, she was the best of the best—a force to be reckoned with.
“Shields coming up now,” Ricket announced.
Jason said to Grimes, “If your sensors were working properly you’d already know there’s another small fleet of fifteen heavies coming in … not to mention the Meganaught. We have mere minutes to get the hell out of Dodge.”
“Another fleet … Meganaught? We can’t handle the ships attacking us now!”
Jason pointed to a distant bright spot on the display. “That’s the Parcical … at least you’re not alone … for now. But I need to get back to her ASAP.”
“The Parcical’s here!” she exclaimed, a smile forming on her lips. “Yes!” jabbing a small fist into the air. “I’ll take odds on two Star Watch ships over thirty Craing cruisers any day of the week.”
Jason didn’t share her enthusiasm. “Maybe so, but we’re not sticking around here, Grimes, and neither are you.”
Jason stood up, answering an incoming hail. “Go for Cap—”
Boomer interrupted him. “Dad! They’re not here! All eight of the CBDs are gone.”
Jason, assuming the CBDs referred to the Caldurian Battle Droids, asked, “Are you sure they were ever here?”
“Yeah, there’s blast dust all over the place, and ginormous footprints on the deck.”
Jason turned back to Grimes. “Captain!”
She spun around. “What is it?”
“You have Sharks on board?”
She nodded. “Of course. Close to three hundred … in the barracks.”
“Deploy them to …” Looking over at Ricket, he asked, “Are the internal sensors coming online soon?”
Ricket’s fingers were a blur of activity. “Yes, Captain … momentarily.”
Jason waited when the officer sitting at tactical announced, “Incoming!” He spoke the next sentence very slowly: “Two … thousand … nuclear … warheads …”
Ricket then said, “It looks like the Caldurian battle droids have split up into four teams of two. I’ve forwarded their multi-deck locations to Boomer; also to the Leo’s tactical board.”
The tactical officer acknowledged he now had them.
Jason said, “Captain, don’t underestimate those battle droids—they’re amazing fighting machines.”
“Dispatch the Sharks, Lieutenant Meany. Deploy them … all of them. I’m sure our boys and girls will welcome the distraction,” Grimes said.
Jason noticed Ricket, closing up his case—snapping the latches. “The countermeasure patches are now installed. Some systems may take a few more minutes to come fully online, but rest assured, Captain Grimes, the Leo has been fully inoculated against the Ingress Virus.”
“Thank you, Ricket,” she said, refocusing her attention on the logistical feed. “Fire fifteen hundred JIT fusion-tipped missiles. Proximity explosions … destinations at the one-thousand-mile mark.”
Jason inwardly smiled. Grimes pretty much just duplicated the same defensive command he’d ordered earlier. She was one hell of an officer.
Jason said, “Look … there’s a Caldurian Battle Droid stationed right outside your bridge. It’s painted a ridiculously bright blue color so there’ll be no mistaking it for one of the unfriendly ones. It’s there for your protection.”
“Thank you! Again, you’re a lifesaver,” she said, momentarily turning away to attend to official duties. After barking off several more orders, she turned back and said, “Captain, we have explicit orders, from Admiral Mayweather, to hold this section of space … how can we leave when the Craing are attacking here? This is war!”
“Because protecting the ol’ home front takes precedence. I promise, we’ll deal with the Craing … all in good time. By the way, do you have a bridge officer you can spare? The Parcical’s pretty much running with a skeleton crew right now.”
Grimes, somewhat overwhelmed, turned to Lieutenant Meany at tactical: “Go with Captain Reynolds … do whatever he asks.” She smiled at Jason. “I’ll send you additional crew, soon as things settle down. Will that work?”
“That’s fine. And now I order you to leave Craing space. I don’t know how much you know about the impending attack by the Sommis of Adriark … the same enemy that infected our fleet assets with a virus … but one hundred and fifty of their war ships are on the verge of entering Sol System. My plan is to restore Star Watch to its full, or at least near full, capabilities. When you enter the Sol System, hold up near Earth’s moon. The Minian is already there, more or less operational. Connect with Captain Perkins for further updates and instructions as soon as you arrive there.”
“Are you sure … that you want me to leave my district?”
“I’m sure. I’m in the process now of recalling all our Star Watch assets.”
“And Admiral Mayweather?”
“Don’t worry about him … I’ll deal with him personally, later.”
* * *
Jason returned to the Parcical’s bridge, spitting mad. The fucking Craing! It was just like them to take advantage of a situation like their present one. Obviously, the Sommis of Adriark had enlisted their help long beforehand. Again the Alliance was taken off guard. What earlier seemed nothing more than an inconsequential attempt to bring down the Planetary Alliance and the U.S. fleet was becoming a full-time nightmare. How many other of the Alliance’s past enemies had united with the Sommis of Adriark?
Jason headed straight for his captain’s chair and sat down. “Ryan, this is Lieutenant Meany; he’s relieving you on tactical.” Ryan looked relieved. “Thanks, Captain,” he replied, switching back to his usual helm position.
“Lieutenant, call in whatever drone fighters are still active.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jason hailed Boomer. “Where the hell are you?”
“Um … I’m just leaving …”
“I told you to leave the CBDs to the Minian’s Sharks …”
“Sorry, I got caught up in the fight. Damn, those things are vicious!”
Jason had to acknowledge the girl was a true warrior. And he wondered if she was even more addicted to adrenalin-infused situations than he thought. “I want you, the two recruits, and the two CBDs back on the Parcical within the next minute.” Jason watched as Lieutenant Meany deployed another volley of five hundred fusion-tipped missiles.
“Wait … only two droids?” Boomer asked.
“We’re leaving one behind, outside the Leo’s bridge.”
“Okay, Dad, we’re on our way … I promise!”
Jason let out a long breath. “Ryan, call up an interchange wormhole to District Two. Next stop … the Pisces.”
“Yes, Captain.” Jason knew their next destination was where the Jhardonian star system resided. This brought his mind, his thoughts, back to Dira. Suddenly, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to her. He noticed Ryan’s glance back at him—at Jason’s nervously tapping left foot.
Chapter 33
Dira sat quietly in the co-pilot seat as Bri, now active at the manual controls, maneuvered the spacecraft closer to Xavier Station 35, while speaking with someone about getting docking permission. For the third time, he repeated no flight plan had been filed.
“Who is this? Is this Clandal? Is that you, Clandal?”
There was a momentary hesitation before the same voice responded back over comms, “Yes, this is Magistrate Clandal.”
“I thought so. You gave us this same shit the last time I wanted to secure a berth. I need a name to give to the prince when he asks why there was such a long delay.”
“The prince is with you?” he questioned, his voice tense.
“Of course he is! Isn’t this his private craft? You think we’re out here on a joy ride?”
Scrapyard LEGACY (Star Watch Book 6) Page 18