Admiral's Gambit (A Spineward Sectors Novel:)

by Luke Sky Wachter

  “Yes, Admiral,” replied the tech.

  Two of the Corvettes headed for the edge of the system to safely point transfer out, and the third left at a slightly divergent course and much faster speed.

  However, due to drive damage sustained in their firefight, the Lucky Clover and our companion cruiser continued to close the distance on the two cripples.

  “It's going to be tight, Admiral,” explained the Tactical Officer throwing some calculations up on the main board.

  Since the numbers meant very little to me, I just nodded and instructed the man to put the main display back on the board.

  “Helm, don’t slow down for anything,” instructed the Tactical Officer as the first Corvette came within range.

  “I’m reading heavy concentrations of strange particles coming from the closest Corvette. I think she’s going to try to jump,” said one of the Sensor Operators.

  “They’re too close to a major gravitational body,” said the Tactical Officer. He leaned over and spoke in his microphone to the gunnery section.

  “There she goes,” said the Sensor operator.

  The entire Flag Bridge watched as the little CR70 Corvette started to phase out of reality. It looked almost like a double blink and then the Corvette reappeared in front of them.

  “Star drive failure,” exclaimed the Tactical Officer. “I knew she was too close,” he added.

  “I’m reading a power surge,” said the Sensor Operator.

  Suddenly on screen there was an explosion and gases erupted out of the little Corvette, venting into space.

  “Blast it,” cursed the Tactical Officer.

  The explosion was soon followed by two large objects being ejected into space. The first exploded shortly after it cleared the ship and the little Corvette was rocked again. The second just hung there in space, slowly getting further and further away.

  “She ejected her fusion cores into cold-space, Admiral. Most likely she’s down to emergency power,” reported the Tactical officer.

  “Why would she do a thing like that,” I asked, trying to keep disappointment out of my voice. Fusion plants were not an easy thing to build and install, or else the Lucky Clover would have been back up to her original complement of five, instead of still clunking along with three.

  “These are pirates,” the Tactical Officer said as if that explained everything.

  “I’ve no doubt they still had the fusion plants set to factory default conditions so when the star drive backfired and sent a surge through their system, the computer automatically ejected the cores. As you can see,” he gestured to first the one that exploded and then the one that didn’t, “the automated system was at least half right. Which means they aren’t all dead right now,” the Tactical Officer continued.

  I made a fist and gently struck the arm of my chair. “Send in the Lancers,” I ordered tersely.

  With only emergency power the pirates weren’t going anywhere. The Tactical Officer ordered gunnery to hold its fire.

  On the screen, four shuttles popped into existence, burning thrusters to slow down and match courses with the drifting Corvette.

  Meanwhile, the Hammerhead put on a slight burst of speed.

  “Her Captain must have overcharged the engines,” Lieutenant Tremblay said disapprovingly.

  “The Corvette is starting to charge her star drive,” said one of the Sensor Operators.

  If anything, the Hammerhead went even faster.

  “Let me know the instant they pass the point of no return on their star drive,” instructed the First Officer.

  Then the Hammerhead started taking long-range potshots at the sole remaining Corvette still fleeing for its life. The one with the curious gunships had already jumped out of the system.

  The Corvette's shield deflectors stopped blow after blow.

  “How long until it's past the critical threshold and able to point transfer,” demanded the First Officer. Like everyone else, he was watching the screen as though he was afraid if he blinked the little pirate Corvette would disappear.

  “Another fifteen seconds,” said the Sensor Operator.

  “For the threshold or the jump,” demanded the First Officer in exasperation.

  Then a bolt from the Hammerhead’s turbo lasers slammed through the shields and hit the Corvette in the vicinity of its main hyper-dish. The main dish, along with its ability to jump to hyperspace, had just been temporarily knocked out.

  “The pirates are dumping power from their star drive and pumping it back into their shields instead,” said the Sensor Operator pumping her fist in the air.

  I jumped out of the Throne. “Reissue our original surrender terms,” I shouted to the communications tech before realizing how unprofessional I must look. I sat back down, feeling my face turn red. I had no desire for more people to be killed unnecessarily, and the mixture of excitement and dread was a little more than I could bear at that particular moment.

  “Yes, Admiral,” grinned the Ex-Com who immediately started re-broadcasting our demand for the pirates' surrender.

  With the Hammerhead continuing to gain on them and the Lucky Clover now coming into range, the pirates realized the inevitability of their situation and signaled their surrender.

  I breathed a soft sigh of relief and turned to the First Officer with what I hoped was a restrained smile.

  “That went well, wouldn't you say, Lieutenant,” I asked.

  Officer Tremblay nodded but he looked like the only person on the Bridge who didn’t share in the enthusiasm sweeping the room, as people slapped each other on the back and smiled.

  “It did this time,” the First Officer said with a frown.

  “Why the cloudy face? We won,” I said, throwing my hands wide.

  “We won today, but what about next time? Maybe we won’t have a convenient pirate ally to slow these smaller faster ships down enough so we can catch and disable them,” Tremblay said, genuine concern playing across his features.

  Trust the former Intelligence Officer to find the cloud to every silver lining, I thought. I closed my eyes momentarily, then clapped the First Officer on the shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something. We always do,” I said winningly. I was determined not to let anything ruin the sweet taste of victory, even if it was a small one like this.

  “I sure hope so. And while we’re at it, we need to figure out if we’re going to keep these two Corvettes we just captured or hand them over to the locals. If we’re to keep them, how do we get them repaired? Neither one can make the jump through hyperspace on its own,” said Lieutenant Tremblay, still lost in his visions of disaster.

  I took a deep breath and stood up.

  “Thank you for your astute analysis, Mr. Tremblay. I’ll be in the ready room if there’s anything pressing that comes up,” I said, stalking off. The First Officer did a better job of raining on a parade than anyone that I could think of. Already, my victory mood of celebration was gone thanks to him and his list of worries.

  The last thing the bridge crew needed was to see both their First Officer and their Admiral looking glum and concerned. There would be enough of that later, I had no doubt.

  Inside my ready room, I was surprised to see Akantha. I hadn’t even noticed her come onto the Flag Bridge, let alone sneak off into the ready room.

  She was staring at the floor, looking grim when I first came in. Looking up, she forced a smile. “I hear congratulations are in order for another great victory,” she said, obviously trying to put some warmth into her naturally cool inflections.

  I ground to a halt before giving myself a shake and sliding around to the back of the desk. “It's not as big as all that. Still, it is a solid mark in the win column,” I said, unable to muster the excitement that Tremblay had completely drained from me moments earlier.

  “I’m sure the inhabitants of this system will be as grateful as mine are for your help,” she said.

  I gave her a searching look, but all I got back for my efforts were her
impassive features. “I don’t know that I’d go that far. It was just a couple of pirates,” I said, trying to downplay the situation.

  “Yes, pirates, the road bandits that travel the river between the stars. It is good that you have stopped them” she said simply.

  “I’m glad you think so,” I said, a little wide-eyed from trying to figure out if she just wanted to talk, or if Akantha had some other ulterior motive for this visitation.

  I knew she was still smarting over the fact that I hadn’t gone down to the planet with her but I had hoped that being back in space would dull the emotion.

  “Is there a particular reason you’ve stopped by to chat,” I asked after a few moments of silence.

  She turned her face away and gave the wall a hard look. “On the eve of victory is not the time to air my complaints,” she said stiffly.

  I felt my shoulders slump. Now I either had to follow up or be an insensitive jerk. I had really hoped to avoid any more rain clouds right now and have a few moments to myself to try to recapture the high of victory.

  I sighed. “I’m sure whatever it is needs to be faced sooner or later. Why don’t we try to work through whatever it is together,” I said, resigned to dealing with whatever drama awaited.

  The Six foot four inch tall, Nordic, white-skinned ice maiden with long blond hair, turned back and gave me a searching look.

  “How long until we return to my home,” she said finally.

  “I’m not entirely sure,” I said and watched her expression harden. “Although,” I hastily added, “if we’re to keep the two new prize ships, they have to be transported back to Tracto VI at some point. The Hammerhead can’t do it without some significant work and a more skilled engineering team than is currently on board. I suppose the Lucky Clover might be headed back soon to drop them off in your home-system. You're welcome to stay awhile as well, if you’re getting homesick for your people,” I said, giving her a hopeful look.

  She opened her mouth and then slowly closed it and shook her head. Again, she gave me that same searching look. “Returning home is a side issue, only of interest to me personally,” she said finally. Then silence returned, and remained for what felt like ten minutes.

  I started to close my eyes in frustration but checked myself.

  “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can work through it,” I repeated. Although on the inside I wasn’t entirely sure if that was the truth. The native Tracto-ans had some pretty strange customs and superstitions. Even if I was entirely willing to bridge the gap, my initial reaction to whatever superstitious baggage they were packing at that moment might send things ballistic.

  She nodded slowly. “As you have reminded me, this is a ship of war. Not a river boat or floating citadel full of warriors and families, no matter how big its size,” she began with a cold tone.

  I nodded, not sure where this was going, but grateful for an end to the silence.

  “And as I have learned interacting with your crew, what is obvious to me and my people is not always obvious to yours,” she said, giving me another cool look.

  I just wished she’d stop beating around the bush and spit out whatever was on her mind. I’d never been able to accurately read her and trying, like I was right now, only made my head hurt. As always, clarity failed to emerge from all the brain strain. Kind of like tugging on a ball of knots, it never gets any better than how it started. Not the most comforting of thoughts, obviously.

  “Okay. I think it's safe to say that we both have to make adjustments to our thinking and try to meet the other one half way,” I said, hoping that by essentially thinking my thoughts out loud that she would help me out a little.

  “Excellent,” she said with a short nod and a half smile.

  This time I did close my eyes.

  “Akantha. I need to be brutally, honestly blunt here because from your reaction, you obviously think we’ve just worked through something here. Something that’s clearly been bothering you and, as far as I’m concerned, I’m still completely in the dark when it comes to knowing what it is, or what you seemed to think we just agreed to, that made you happy just now,” I said, wishing I could have just taken the win and pushed off the situation until later. That wouldn’t have been fair to her though.

  Besides, even if I was inclined to be a complete heel, there were somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen hundred native warriors on board doubling as the Lucky Clover’s Lancer contingent. While they might call me their warlord, or Primarch, or some other funny name, I was under no illusions about who they’d back if it came to a conflict between me and my ‘Sword-Bearer,’ as the natives liked to term it.

  Her smile froze and that icy glare that seemed to look through you and wonder if you were worth her time was back, stabbing and pinning me to the chair. “I have been patient,” she said, then clenched her jaw. “More than patient. And understanding as well, in consideration that this is a warrior expedition,” she said levelly, walking up to my desk.

  She leaned over and stabbed a finger down on the polished wooden desk I’d inherited from previous Admiral. “However, I will not be ignored for much longer,” she gritted through her teeth with the unremitting fury of a glacier.

  My eyes widened at the savage tone in her voice. “I’m sorry if I’ve been ignoring you, it wasn’t my-” I started.

  She cut me off, stabbing the finger of her other hand on the desk as well. “Nor will I allow myself to become a laughingstock, someone to be scorned and pitied by others. Make it right or I will not be responsible for what happens when I take matters into my own hands,” she said fiercely.

  "Akantha-" I started, but she stalked over to the door and slapped it open, despite my protests that she should stay so we could talk it through. Before I knew it she was out the door and gone, while I was left holding my overly-sensitive head in my hands, wondering where I’d gone wrong.

  Was this because I had ignored her after she’d helped capture the pair of Promethean Hammerheads back in Easy Haven? Or because I'd been avoiding her since we had left her home-system?

  Maybe she was mad that I hadn’t been asking for her opinion and inviting her to every little chat I had with key officers. I honestly didn’t know.

  I had told her I was clueless and all but begged her to plainly tell me what was wrong. But, as usual, she wouldn’t even do that. How was I supposed to find out what was wrong when she wouldn’t tell me?!

  I felt sick to my stomach. Between First Officer Tremblay and Lady Akantha, the victory of but a few minutes ago was ashes in my mouth, and I was left with nothing except the urge to hurl.

  These arranged marriages were the pits, and I had a newfound sympathy for my Montagne ancestors who had to go through with them. I wished some of them were still around to give me some advice right about now.

  I could just see the headline: 'Confederation Admiral married by mistake. Everything seemed to be going so well, up until she stabbed him with the cursed ancestral family sword over a cultural misunderstanding.'

  Sweet Murphy, I had been nothing but a gentleman ever since I realized the mistake that wound up with us being hitched together. She had the best room on the ship, the Admiral’s Quarters. I invited her to all the Command Meetings and used her as my liaison her fellow natives. I’d even placed her in joint command of the effort to capture the Promethean cruisers back in Easy Haven.

  I was building defenses around her world to save her people from Bug genocide and was trying to build up some industry in her home system. All in the name of House Zosime, her house. Now, I put it all in her name because of obvious concerns about how my superiors (whoever they actually were) would view my actions. What more did the woman want?

  In fairness, she had given the settlers a place to live and saved both them and myself from a death at Confederation Judicial hands for planetary piracy, as well as recruited thousands to my cause. I just wasn’t in a very charitable mood right then.

  I angrily threw a data slate against the wall. I immedia
tely realized how useless such a gesture was, but I couldn't help myself from staring angrily at it before reluctantly walking over to pick it up. After collecting it, I took some deep breaths to calm down. Hearkening back to my mother’s advice about women, I called up environmental and inquired if they had any flowers.

  I arranged with the supply department for flowers and candies to be placed at her door with a small card. After that, I scheduled a few command meetings, just so I could include her in them.

  Not knowing what else to do, I headed back out to the Flag Bridge to see how the search and capture of the two pirate Corvettes were going.

  Chapter 15: Planetary Gratitude

  When the locals realized we really weren’t pirates, but instead warships squawking old Confederation Fleet transponder signals, they were cautiously optimistic. After we finished putting the pirates in lockdown, took the pirate ships under tow, and went to render emergency assistance to the local SDF contingent and any merchantman in distress, they showered us with thanks.

  We further proved our good intentions by helping perform some emergency repairs on their two system defense Corvettes without seizing them for ourselves, as we could have easily done, and they were ecstatic.

  “You don’t know how much this means to us, Admiral,” said the Planetary Governor, an honest-looking (at least for a politician) man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties. He was practically bouncing around in his seat now that he was sure we weren’t just another group of pirates or planetary raiders sent by greedy neighbors, looking to take advantage of his world’s momentary weakness.

  “It is our duty as Confederation Officers and members of the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet, Governor Igawa,” I said, trying to project confidence. I had made sure all the adornments were arranged correctly on my old Confederation Admiral's uniform for this occasion.

  “That’s just it. That right there. The Confederation is getting itself organized and sending out fleets of ships to help those worlds out on the Rim like my own little Nova-Practica. Worlds abandoned by the Imperials and left to the tender mercies of Pirates,” said the Governor with more than a glimmer of hope in his eyes.