by Shane Black
“Very good, Lieutenant, switch us over, if you please.” Hunter waited a moment or two. “Captain, Hunter here. Status report.”
“Good to hear your voice ma’am. We’re clear to deck five and will rendezvous with you at station control platform three.”
“Affirmative. I need a medical evac from the records lab before we do any heavy lifting. Echo has the coordinates. Hunter out.” She switched her commlink back. “Mallory, I want a full sensor sweep of this station. Find those intruders now. I want bearing and distance in thirty seconds.”
“Yes ma’am. Stand by for telemetry.”
The Task Force flagship turned gradually in the direction of Survey Station Nineteen, bringing all of her most powerful sensors and detection equipment to bear. Life sciences personnel configured the automatic data collection routines and the sensors began a systematic analysis of every cubic foot of the station’s internal volume.
“Got ‘em, Commander. Deck Two bearing–” Hunter heard someone typing on a control station in the background. “Bearing one zero seven mark two zero zero true your position. Range 80 yards XY plane true.”
“That’s the observation deck. Report force alert status.”
“All vessels are maintaining general quarters per your orders, ma’am.”
“Watch for sudden appearances of enemy vessels. Under no circumstances allow enemy personnel to evacuate this station, or any ship to approach it.”
“Ma’am? We have negative contact with unauthorized personnel aboard the station.”
“Say again, Fury?”
“They’re gone. Previous contact is no longer showing up on the scope.”
“Give me a contact scan of the station perimeter, quickly.”
“Stand by.” Hunter listened as voices murmured in the background. Mallory could be heard issuing orders.
“Negative contact. My only external contact is King One. No change in aspect.”
Hunter ripped her commlink off and threw it down the corridor. After trying to compose herself and failing she slumped back against the bulkhead.
“The minute that jamming equipment went south, they ran up the stairs to Deck Two and vanished,” she sighed. “We almost bought the farm for nothing.”
“Maybe not. We did get the records and sensor data we came for. I wouldn’t be surprised if we can glean something useful from all the data we gathered during the fight.”
“I hope so. I want to know how my enemy keeps blinking out the moment we get close.”
“It is a mystery,” Huggins concluded.
“I don’t like mysteries, Commander.”
Eight
After doing what he could to find his crew, Captain Hunter set about to analyzing the Dunkerque’s communications systems. There was always an outside chance a full suite of communications equipment would be able to do what a tac-suit based portable system couldn’t.
He had the power he needed. Yili did say the batteries were at 17%. After confirming this fact for himself, he set the ship’s communications on maximum broadcast bandwidth and keyed the transmitter.
“Hunter to landing party, come in.”
He waited the regulation ten seconds.
“Hunter to landing party, respond please.”
Nothing was audible on any of the ship’s pickups. The Captain quickly configured the system to broadcast his hail at ten second intervals and set his personal commlink to relay the Dunkerque’s response frequencies before moving to the short range sensor station.
Meanwhile, on the Dunkerque bridge, Zony was working as fast as she was able to locate the Captain’s commlink designator.
Anything? Moo asked.
Zony shook her head. “The last autoresponse we got was from lift two, but these readings don’t make any sense. It’s almost as if...”
“As if what?”
“Okay, look at this.” Zony pulled up the frequency analysis track and superimposed it on the position tracking of Hunter’s commlink. “Here, right when he steps into Lift Two, all of the frequency tracking spikes into third and fourth harmonics and we lose his signal. Nine seconds later, we get the base frequency and the harmonic at the same time index, giving our commlinks a chance to reacquire his signal for point zero zero five seconds. Then the base signal disappears again and we lose his track. Now, you could call this coincidence, except for that second blip. His appearance and disappearance is exactly coordinated with that base signal.”
“Meaning you can get a fix on his position?”
“I already did. If I set our frequency cycle to his harmonic range, I reacquire his signal, but at a different time index. From our perspective, time is passing 100 times faster for him. I know that because the time index on his commlink is already registering a couple of days in the future.”
“Could that be a systems malfunction?” Moo asked, desperately trying to keep up with Zony’s formidable intellect.
“Not unless the laws of physics are different wherever he is.”
“You said you had a fix on his position. Where?”
“He’s on the bridge of this ship.”
Moo just stared.
As he worked furiously to get a fix on the Dunkerque’s position, Captain Hunter’s commlink beeped, indicating he had received a response to his hail. He keyed his transmitter.
“Hunter here.”
“I see you simply won’t be deterred, Captain.”
Hunter face froze in a combination of shock and recognition. He rose to his feet and activated the main viewer. The face of Admiral Hughes appeared. He was still wearing his Skywatch uniform, but it was decorated with a number of strange insignia. He also had odd marks on his face. They looked as if they were from some kind of pigment.
“Admiral, I have orders to take you into custody and return you to Skywatch Fleet command for debriefing.”
Hughes chuckled. “By the book. I have to say I’m impressed, Jason. You took to your training much more readily than I first believed.”
“I’ll kindly ask that you address me by my proper rank, sir.”
“Not in a mood for a reunion with your old teacher? Well, I suppose I deserve that. But I’m no longer a Skywatch admiral, captain. I have been offered a much more valuable role in the world to come.”
“With all due respect, sir, what the hell are you talking about?”
“The army that is preparing to conquer the Core systems has granted me the title of Warlord. I will deliver the human race to our sovereign. He will decide if they live or die. If you live, it will be to serve the Ithis. If you die, be safe in the knowledge you gave your lives to advance a far more worthy species.”
“You’re already facing court-martial for a number of offenses, admiral. Do you really want to add treason to your indictment?”
“Captain, there is no jurisdiction known to man with the power to enforce its will on me. I have ten million warriors at my back and a fleet of starships with enough firepower to annihilate the human race in a matter of weeks. We’re not talking about a war here. We’re talking about the complete obliteration of every planet man has ever set foot on.”
“Stop it, admiral. You’re scaring me.”
“You have an opportunity here, Jason. You have a chance to fulfill your commission in ways no other Skywatch captain has ever dreamed of. You can save mankind. You can literally save every man, woman and child alive if you’re intelligent enough to recognize where you stand in history. The Ithis empire spans galaxies. Mankind is a mosquito infestation in comparison.”
“Surely I don’t have to remind the admiral what mosquitoes can do to an arrogant population?”
“Mankind never employed anti-matter weapons against insects.”
“Admiral, would you mind carrying a message to the Ithis sovereign for me? It would certainly save us all a lot of time and it might earn you some more paint for your face.”
Hughes’ expression did not change. He replied with a deadpan sarcastic tone. “What message is that, captain?”
&nb
sp; “You tell him if he plans to exterminate the human race he better bring his lunch. Hunter out.”
The channel closed abruptly and Hunter went back to adjusting the Dunkerque’s short range sensors.
A strange signal flickered on Zony’s frequency analysis display.
“Colonel?”
“Do we have sensor coordinates yet?” Moo asked.
“Negative, but we’re getting some kind of intermittent transmission on that base frequency. It’s happening in microsecond-length bursts, however, so there’s barely enough time to register its there, much less do an analysis on it.
“Auxiliary power restored,” Yili announced.
“We can’t move. You’re aware of the inverse-square law?”
“Signal strength is inversely proportional to the distance from the source?”
“Close enough, colonel,” Zony smiled. “It’s theoretically exponentially true across dimensions. If the Captain is on some other plane of existence, a movement of even a few inches could put him permanently out of range of any signal we can muster.”
“Helm at station-keeping, engineer,” Moo ordered.
“Colonel, we’ve got hostiles on the move. Now on Deck Three and approaching the core magneto-lifts,” Yili announced. The marines at the bridge entrances braced themselves and hefted their weapons.
“Get a fix on him, lieutenant. Now.” The look on Moo’s face left no room for interpretation.
“All due respect sir, even if we get the Captain back into our dimension, what’s our plan?” Zony asked.
“We’re going to do what the Captain originally planned: Use this ship to beat those damn bugs to a pulp.”
Nine
“Captain on the bridge.”
Lieutenant Mallory relinquished Fury’s center chair to Commander Hunter. Jayce put a hand on Mallory’s shoulder and the two women exchanged a moment’s regard for one another. Then the lieutenant returned to her station. Hunter took her seat and swiveled to face the forward screen.
“Comms, bring me up on the J-A. Signal all ships, Task Force Perseus.”
“Affirmative, Commander.”
The clear channel signal sounded from every commlink, intraship station and signal receiver aboard nine starships simultaneously.
“Attention all stations. Attention all stations. This is Perseus Force Command on priority channel. Stand by for a message from the Flag.”
The communications net quickly switched all receivers to green and the Fury Signals officer nodded to Jayce.
“This is Commander Hunter aboard the Fury. All vessels stand down from quarters. Maintain intruder protocols. Survey Station Nineteen has been secured. The Task Force will plot a course to Gitairn Sector Ten to relieve the Starship Argent. Spruance has the point. All vessels report navigational readiness on signal Buster. Flag out.”
The comms officer closed the channel and switched communications nets to receive priority navigational computer signals.
“Helm, bring the Fury about. New course one one zero mark three one. Stand by to engage the mains.”
“Aye, ma’am. Helm responding. Mains at your command.”
A yeoman stepped up alongside Hunter’s command chair. “Ma’am, I have a request from one of the Exeter’s signals officers for a moment.”
“Have Tom handle it,” Hunter replied as she examined a handheld tablet. “I have dorsal hull damage to inspect.”
“She says she has information on what the station intruders were looking for.”
“Who has that information? Where?”
“Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins, ma’am. She’s waiting in the executive inboard cabin on Deck Three.”
“Who the hell is Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins?”
“Uhh, ma’am. Uhh, she’s the second watch signal–”
“Belay the question, Yeoman. Dismissed.”
The yeoman vanished in ways only yeomen who recognize an angry CO can.
“Mallory, you have the conn.”
The Fury’s Third Officer looked up in surprise as Hunter walked through the bridge entrance hatch grumbling.
“Captain’s off the bridge.”
The door to the inboard executive cabin opened abruptly.
“Attention on deck!”
Two Exeter marines and three fleet officers rose to attention in a snap instant as Commander Hunter and Lieutenant Commander Huggins entered. The Fury XO closed the door and then hesitated a moment before standing at attention himself. The Fury’s captain did not give the customary order to allow the occupants of the spacious room to stand at rest. That non-action instantly set everyone’s nerves on edge.
“I’m not going to ask the question, because that would presume there are personnel aboard this ship who believe they have the choice whether or not to answer me. I’m only going to say this: If I don’t walk out of this room with a five by five understanding of every last detail of just what the hell is going on in this command, I will find the person or persons responsible and have them skinned.”
Lieutenant Hawkins swallowed nervously.
“Captain, what is the status of Exeter?”
“The intruders escaped in much the same way our enemy escaped aboard the station ma’am. One minute they were there. The next they were gone,” Cleghorn replied. “An explosives alarm went off, but we believe that was a malfunction. Further analysis indicated no weapons present.”
“Very well,” Hunter replied. “Gunnery Sergeant Daly? What is your involvement in this?”
“Ma’am, Exeter First Marines were alerted to the intruders by the lieutenant. I was informed she responded to a signal from Echo during the first attack.”
Hunter glared at Hawkins. “Seems to me all roads lead back to you, lieutenant. Report.” The look on the commander’s face told Hawkins she was in no mood for nonsense, so Hawkins led with her biggest bombshell.
“The station intruders were on Deck Six first for a reason, ma’am.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Echo’s first alarm was sounded nine minutes before you were attacked in the records lab. Echo sounded that alarm on Deck Six. They weren’t counting on being discovered, and I now believe they got there the same way they left.”
Hunter continued glaring at Hawkins.
“The rest of you are dismissed.”
“Ma’am, there’s–”
“That will be all, Captain.” Hunter still didn’t look up.
Cleghorn hesitated a moment, then assented. “Aye, ma’am.” Everyone stepped past the Fury XO quietly. The last one out closed the door.
“Lieutenant JG Hawkins, I don’t know where you got the idea you were on some kind of secret mission in my Task Force, but I’ve got news for you and you better listen close. The next time you decide to freelance in my fleet I’ll bust you down to a two-stripe mudroller and have you cleaning spoons in a craphouse before the next bell rings. Do you read me, miss?”
“Yes, ma’am. I thought–”
“The next time, you think after you get permission, lieutenant!” Hunter snapped. “So help me if I have to give that order twice, I’ll have the quartermaster signing written requisitions for you to change your socks every morning.”
“Permission to speak free–”
“Denied.”
Hawkins intensified her posture and blinked, desperately trying to hoist herself out of the fire.
“Jayce–”
Hunter gave Huggins a look that forced him back to attention. His voice was considerably stronger. “Permission to speak freely, Commander.”
Hunter’s glare at the lieutenant only intensified. “Be brief.”
“I spoke to Commander Pierce aboard Exeter. Hawkins discovered the intruders, ma’am. There’s ample reason to believe she simply didn’t have time to prudently follow the chain of command.”
“Is that true, lieutenant?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was prepared to report to the Commander after I verified my suspicions first hand.”
Hunter glared. It all sounded like the kind of confusion she had long since banished from her ships. “Stand easy, lieutenant.”
Hawkins shifted to the regulation rest stance, clasping her hands behind her back. Hunter collapsed into one of the comfortable chairs and pinched her eyebrows together. “That will be all, Commander.”
“Aye, ma’am.” Huggins dismissed himself and closed the door. Several moments passed before Hunter looked up again. The lieutenant stared straight ahead, focusing her attention on the Fury insignia plaque on the opposite side of the room.
“They taught you discipline at the Academy, did they not?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“So you understand the danger involved in taking the initiative without at least telling someone what the hell you’re up to?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I trust we won’t be having this discussion again, will we, Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Permission to speak freely granted. What is going on at Station Nineteen?”
Hawkins tried to relax, but her body wouldn’t obey. “Ma’am–” She cleared her throat nervously. “Ma’am, the intruders were on Deck Six looking for survey probe communications designators.”
“How do you know that?”
“It was part of my Signals practical at the Academy, ma’am. Our objective was to defeat a fleet maneuver using only a subset of our operational protocols. All survey stations store their probe network analysis equipment on their sixth deck. I used that knowledge to re-program a series of survey probes to respond with the wrong navigational data and to do it with the wrong vessel designators. By the time the simulated enemy fleet realized their mistake, they were facing a three to one disadvantage in the least favorable region of space.” Hawkins took a breath. “Ma’am.”
“What is your theory?”
“The intruders have Skywatch training, ma’am. That’s the only way they would know what to look for and where to find it.”
Hunter rose to her feet and placed her hands flat on the table. “Now that’s useful, Hawkins. Explain.”