The Garoden War. (SpaceFed StarShips Series) Book 6. An action-packed follow-on story that sees the Earth's Space Navy in action.: ‘Into the Fire.’

by Gerry A. Saunders

  Captain Plank eyed him a moment, realizing that Verice would do it without hesitation. Plank knew that Verice was full of his own importance. From now on, he’d better watch how he addressed him.

  “Sorry, your Excellency… According to my specialists, the round looking shape is probably the same type of ship we captured and destroyed years ago.”

  “Agreed.”

  “The others are unknown. Plus, we can’t see what’s outside the thread’s angle of view. But, even so, they are no match for our vessels, Excellency,” Plank confidently stated.

  Viceroy Verice just stared at Plank, wondering why he’d suffered this idiot for so long. But, of course, he knew why. Plank was the son of Dankel, head of the Garoden Space-Navy.

  “So, Plank,” he finally said. “You’d jump without attempting to find out more about the opposition. Or, even without a ‘what-if,’ backup plan?” he asked.

  Plank cursed himself as he realized he hadn’t thought this through enough. Verice was right. After all, he was second in command of the fleet, and it was about time he started using his Companion brain more and stopped trying to score points, especially with so much at risk.

  He could feel Verice waiting impatiently for him to make some sort of suggestion. Then panicked, and quickly prodded his own companion brain for a solution.

  “Well, Plank?” Verice snapped.

  Plank felt his companion going through various scenarios and no matter how much he urged it to hurry up, it took its own time. Then, as his Companion came up with a possible solution to the problem, it formed in his mind.

  “Okay… As I see it,” he started to say, just as his companion brain mentally jabbed him.

  “Err. As we see it, we should send your Star-Destroyer, Z183, together with Z190, first.”

  “So, not your ship first then, Plank?”

  “No, Viceroy, I believe that you would be more effective when it came to making instant decisions.”

  “Okay, go on.”

  “Well, we think that the moment you exit, you should be able to dispatch three limpet sub-space trackers, in stealth mode.

  One of these would then be attached to each of the three alien vessels,” he stated.

  “Then, you simply let them escape,” he triumphantly added, while looking to see Verice’s reaction.

  “Then we can follow them to their home systems and destroy the lot of them. That’s what we think, anyway.”

  “Well, Plank. Sensible reasoning, at last,” Verice said, after a couple of moments thinking about it.

  “Thank you Viceroy. Then, of course, we would know the locations of their home planets.”

  “Indeed… particularly since Garoden Command has no idea where that spherical ship originated…” Viceroy Verice agreed and paused again.

  “Hmm… Nevertheless, we wouldn’t be able to attach a tracker if the spherical ship’s molecular cohesion dispersion field is operational,” Verice added, looking carefully to see Plank’s reaction, again.

  “True, but hopefully they won’t be expecting us, and their dispersion field won’t be in operation, Your Excellency.”

  Verice didn’t reply. However, the tactical use of Your Excellency, by Plank hadn’t been missed by him.

  “Return to your ship, Plank. I’ll get the companions to put a plan together covering the whole operation,” he told Captain Plank.

  “Very well, Excellency.” Plank replied. Concentrated his mind for a split second, and was gone.

  Viceroy Verice turned to his science officer, Griken. “Let your companion work with mine, and Cratic’s. So that we can all see if the plan that Captain Plank’s specialists came up with, is viable.”

  A short time later, Griken mentally checked the progress of the three companion brains.

  “Another fifteen to twenty minutes, Excellency.”

  “Good. I’m going to my Pod,” he told him. Mentally pictured it, and was there, before Griken could reply.

  Twelve minutes later, the plan was ready, and Verice sat back and listened patiently as his companion brain explained the plan, so far.

  He spent some time thinking it through, before finally decided, that, yes this would work. Then he mentally dictated his report to his companion. And, instructed it to encrypt the report, including his new recommendations. Then transmit it back to the Garoden Command, via the Sub-Space communication relays that they had left behind at each of the previous Jump points.

  Verice then teleported back to the bridge and started issuing commands.

  “Griken. Make three limpet sub-space trackers ready. We’ll fire, then attach one of them to each of the three alien ships, immediately on exit.”

  “Consider it done, Your Excellency… I assume we’re letting them escape?”

  “Of course,” Griken smiled his agreement and turned back to his science station.

  “Cratic,” Verice called out to his Navigation Officer. “Plot us an exit point well away from the Pathfinder’s.”

  “How far? Excellency.”

  “Our companions will tell both you and Captain Stugron as soon as they know. There will also be a ship to ship offset for Jump safety.”

  Verice was pleased. So, in just six hours, both his, and Stugron’s Star-Destroyers would make the last Jump.

  With their Jump, exiting right in the midst of these alien creatures,’ he thought to himself, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

  After his and Stugron’s ships had departed, the rest of his Garoden fleet V23 would make their final Jump. Then, on arrival, they would either fight or follow the sub-space trackers to the Homeworld of each of these sub-species.’

  He grinned, thinking about what would happen next. Yes, there was no doubt in his mind that his companion had indeed come up with a viable plan.

  Chapter 19

  Charlotte

  Frank, in addition to his role as their tri-planet ambassador, had been chosen to be the principal liaison officer between all ships. And, at the moment, was busy preparing to chair a live strategy meeting with all of the captains taking part in the operation.

  However, he was still waiting for Andromeda to link her simultaneous multi-language translator system with their vessels.

  “Frank,” Susanna cautioned. “Everyone's waiting.”

  He acknowledged her prompt, then waited again, while Andromeda updated his main screen to show the representative’s full name and title against each of their images.

  Frank had met the Solveron Captain, Sitrea, before, and knew that he would be in mourning for the loss of one of his ships and crew. Now, his blue spherical-shaped starship was the only Solveron vessel in this area.

  However, he had never met the captains of the two Crillon Battlecruisers, CS 87 and CS 93.

  He hadn’t even met Captain Sherman of the Earth Federation’s Experimental Star Cruiser, Neutron or Captain Campbell, of the Federation’s newest StarShip, the Michigan. They were all pretty well unknown to him. Except that he knew the Michigan had helped in the destruction of the alien vessel.

  He and Captain Serrell of the StarShip Argonaut, were, of course, good friends. With Serrell, having already moved his ship away from the rift, being just six light-hours from Delta Pavonis itself.

  Apart from himself, Susanna, who was operating in her primary function as ship’s Data analyst, was the only other crew member physically present and was sitting beside him. While the Earth Federation’s vice president, Horatio Stevenson, and the Russian Grand Councilor, Andrei Sergei Volkov, were both video linked.

  Frank had also asked Charlotte and Cindy to join in the meeting, but they had declined. With Cindy telling him that they would hear it all, anyway. However, Charlotte had warned him that they might intervene, and this remark had made Frank nervous.

  “Frank,” Susanna again prompted him.

  He cleared his throat and started. “Unfortunately, I have only met Argonaut’s captain and some of his crew before. So, I must apologies. I think we would all agree that it wo
uld have been better if I had been able to meet all of you individually, than under these circumstances.”

  “Right let’s deal with data collection, first. The information that we have on the alien ship has until now, been collected individually by each of you… I, therefore, propose that our data analysis department should be given the info that you already have. Then it can be collated before the information is sent to each of our home planets. With all future data being automatically sent directly to our analysis department. I will let Susanna deal with you on this.”

  One of the Crillon’s then drew Frank’s attention. “I’m Captain Arious of CS 93. I agree with Captain Richardson. We must correlate the information and send it to our own experts to come up with an answer as soon as possible.”

  Everyone seemed to agree with that.

  “Very well,” Frank said. “May I suggest that we all make Andromeda the central correlator, working in tandem with Susanna? Once done, we’ll upload the whole information pack, including, everything that our Star Cruiser Neutron and the Argonaut found when they were at the temporary rift.”

  “That’s fine with us,” Hector confirmed.

  Frank felt pleased, as they all nodded in agreement, then instructed their science officers to download their findings on the alien ship to the Andromeda.

  “Receiving data from all vessels, Frank,” Andromeda informed.

  “Good. Let me know when you and Susanna are ready to upload the final pack to all ships,” he asked and sensed Andromeda’s mental acknowledgement.

  “Andromeda, make sure the translation programmes are up to date,” Susanna irritably prompted.

  “Of course,” Andromeda answered, showing what seemed to be a hint of exasperation, from her human side.

  While Frank couldn’t help smiling at Susanna’s irritation, he nevertheless, mentally cautioned her not to ridicule Andromeda’s attempt at being human.

  “Frank. There is one thing that we don’t understand,” Captain Sitrea said.

  “Our Solveron ship was snuffed out, just like that… Yet, you managed to confuse this alien ship’s crew long enough for us to blast it out of existence. So, what…?” He started to ask, then stuttered, “A… long enough…” He stopped, and looked blank, for a moment, then tried to continue.

  “I…, I’m confused… Sorry, Frank. I’ve forgotten what I was going to ask you.”

  “No matter, Captain Sitrea.”

  Then Frank felt humor emanating from Charlotte and knew why Sitrea had forgotten.

  Andromeda broke his train of thought. “The data has been separated into the relevant sections. And is ready to be uploaded,” she advised Frank.

  “Upload now,” he ordered.

  Frank, thought he could sense the data-burst as the information was uploaded. Then, after a few seconds, noted that all of the Captains seemed to be listening intently, presumably to their science officers, as they checked the new data. With Charlotte’s additions being of particular interest.

  Without warning, Susanna suddenly squeezed his hand and discretely gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “What’s that for?” He asked, looking surprised.

  “I just wanted to,” she replied, smiling at him.

  It seemed forever, but, it was only two minutes before the other ship’s scientific teams had read through the information and wanted answers to their queries.

  “I’m Captain Campbell, of the Starship Michigan. I’ve heard a lot about you, Captain Richardson.”

  “Frank, please.”

  “Thanks, Chris will do for me… You say these aliens have two brains. But that, one is subservient to the other?

  “Yes.”

  “Well, it seems to me, we could all do with the equipment, or whatever you used to find this out, without having even seen an alien up close. And, we could do with it pretty sharply.”

  Frank thought it was better not to tell them of Charlotte and Cindy's talents. Nor of his and Susanna’s, come to that.

  “I’m afraid it was a just a fluke. And, worst of all, we don’t think it will happen again, he apologetically explained.”

  “I’m Captain Trentic of the CS 87. So, what you’re saying Captain, is that we are completely on our own. Is that right?”

  “Not exactly Captain. We may still be able to provide information that would be impossible to attain by any other method.”

  “So, telepathy?”

  “In a way, Captain, yes.”

  “Then, we’ll be glad for any help you can give us.”

  “Naturally… Alright, any more questions?” He asked.

  No one replied, most only shook their heads.

  “Very well. Please send the data packs to your homeworlds, now.”

  Frank waited patiently while the Solverons, Crillons, and Argonaut all did as requested. All of them sending data on the alien ship. Plus, the information that Charlotte and Cindy had been able to gather, and record with Andromeda’s help.

  One by one, the active indicator under each captain’s live image, lit. Showing that they had sent the information to their respective homeworlds.

  “Okay.” Frank continued. “Our feeling is that this ship was on a look-and-see mission, to find out what sort of opposition they’re likely to meet on arrival.”

  “You seem to have gathered a lot of information very quickly Frank?” Hector pointed out, finally joining in.

  “I agree,” Sitrea said. “So, Captain, did I just forget what I was trying to say? Or, did you, or whatever it is that you have, make me conveniently forget what I was trying to ask?”

  “Captain Sitrea, I can’t tell you. You’ll just have to trust me on this.”

  ‘Frank. Let me answer them,’ Charlotte mentally urged, as she quickly showed him what she had seen in that split second when the alien’s companion brain was forced to shut down their ship’s force field.

  He remembered seeing something at the same time as Charlotte. But the drain on him, at the time, had left his memory of it a little vague.

  ‘Is that wise?’ he queried.

  ‘To tell them what we glimpsed? Yes. I can make them believe what we saw.’

  ‘But your ability will then be out in the open, Charlotte.’

  ‘Only a small part.’

  ‘I guess you’re right. It might make them understand the urgency of the situation. That it’s all real. And, that it’s gonna happen, now.’

  Frank turned his attention back to the captains as he realized that they were all waiting for him to clarify his, Trust me, statement.

  He cleared his throat, and said, “My colleague will show you something that was impossible to record, at the time. Even, Andromeda was unable to see it.”

  Frank, paused and studied the Captains images on his screen. He noticed that their expressions suddenly seemed to stiffen.

  Then he knew that Charlotte was already in their minds.

  They all saw, and felt, the giant surge by the quad-synced minds on the alien’s companion, as its ship’s screen went down.

  At the same time, just for a split second, they all glimpsed a vision of the Garoden fleet. As its ships sat ready, and waiting to make their Jump.

  The vision ended, almost as soon as it had come. Leaving them all struggling to take in the meaning of the image of a fleet of ships. Let alone the mental effort that had been needed to effect the alien’s mind.

  Everyone was silent for a while as they took it all in. Then, Frank finally spoke.

  “Well, now you all know as much as we do. The aliens call themselves Garodens, and, I’m sure you can see why I said that what we did is unlikely to work again.

  Certainly not with that number of ships…And, there won’t just be two aliens aboard each of them.”

  “Is there any way you can get a hard-copy image of these ships, Frank?” Captain Campbell asked.

  “Unfortunately, not. All four of us had to mentally withdraw, at the same time. And, this, seemed to block our ability to form the image in such a way tha
t Andromeda would have been able to record it.”

  “That’s a shame, Frank,” Hector thoughtfully said. “These Garoden ships all looked pretty similar to that wrecked alien ship out there.”

  “Yes. However, to me, they seem to be a damn sight larger,” Captain Arious added. And, Frank could see everyone nodding agreement.

  “So, what do we do now?” Captain Sherman asked.

  “Captain, I’d like your ship to stay with the Andromeda for the time being,” Frank suggested.

  “That’s fine with me. I’ll inform Fleet Headquarters.”

  “Excellent. In the meantime, we’d better get a strategy worked out and hope our specialists can work a miracle.

  Susanna suddenly grabbed Frank’s hand, as she felt a sensation.

  He felt the sensation, as well. And, looking at her, saw the fear in her eyes. She knew they had both felt a disturbance in warp space.

  “They’re coming,” he said. Then, he knew it was too late. There would be no time to work out a strategy.

  Chapter 20

  Jump Fourteen

  One hundred light years away from Pavonis.

  Viceroy Verice loved watching through the bridge windows, as other ships Jumped. It reminded him that there was nothing like the exhilaration of the wormhole being forced into existence by the power of the massive warp generators.

  Then, of Space itself seeming to twist, and the feeling that your body was somewhere else, at least until it entered the wormhole.

  To him, it was better than having sex. Not that there were any females on board for this particular campaign.