“Get a move on,” Frank urged over the inter-ship comms.
Then, watching the Solveron ship carefully saw what appeared to be a hole in the vessel’s disruptor screen, just for a second or so, as the small blue attack-sphere shot out and headed straight towards its target.
The Star Destroyer did nothing.
‘Arrogant Sods,’ Frank muttered to himself, as he saw the attack-sphere hit the perimeter of the Garoden ship’s protective screen.
Then a palpable feeling of disappointment ran through their crews as they saw the attack-sphere disintegrate in the sparkling inferno of nuclear fire that was caused by the sphere’s anti-disrupter field hitting the alien’s disrupter screen.
“Get out of there,” Charlotte shouted out, as she sensed the aliens companion brains surge into activity.
Andromeda’s sensors suddenly blinked, as they picked up three missiles leaving the Garoden warship.
Within seconds, all three had passed straight through the Solveron ship’s protection screen.
Then came an enormous flash, followed by the muffled sound of screams that could be heard through the open ship-to-ship channel.
Then, silence, as the large blue globe-shaped Solveron ship slowly expanded, before collapsing back on itself. Then dissolved, until just a grey fog remained where it had been. With even this fog, slowly dispersing.
“Frank, all is lost here. We’re leaving. I’m sorry, we have no choice,” Savron told him, his voice sounding shaky.
“You’re wrong, Savron… there are always other options.”
“I’m sorry. We wish you well, Frank. All of you,” he replied, and with that, the Solveron comms link closed.
Just then the Weapons department Icon flashed on Frank’s screen.
“Yes. What do you want?” He abruptly asked Mark.
“Frank, we’ve identified another missile. I don’t think Andromeda’s detectors were able to pick it up. But, Argonaut’s targeting system was trying to lock onto the first Garoden ship when it registered the missile. We think they were able to detect it because the weapon appeared to have an inefficient stealth system.
Anyway, the missile’s changed course, now. And it’s heading for Savron’s ship… Worse still, Ned reckons it’s different from the other three, and could be a tracking missile.”
Frank swore under his breath, on hearing this.
“One last thing, Frank. We're kind of sure that this, fourth missile, emits something that interferes with the Crillon’s weapons targeting system. And, it isn’t, as we initially thought, some form of telepathy.”
“Understood, Mark. Okay, so, at least, we can definitely rule out telepathy, in this instance,” he finished. Closed the weapons Icon, then tapped Savron’s.
“Savron,” he called.
“Savron’s just left, Frank,” Andromeda told him.
“I’ve already sent him a message, via our orange friend, warning him that he might have a tracking unit attached to his ship. Unfortunately, Savron won’t receive my warning until he exits warp.”
“This is bad, Andromeda. Why didn’t you detect the fourth missile?” He asked, sounding pretty angry.
Andromeda took a moment while she interrogated her sensor systems. “It seems that when the Solveron attack sphere hit the Garoden ship’s screen, an EMP distorted my sensors for a second. The Argonaut wasn’t affected.”
Just then, the comms beeped, and Hector’s face appeared on Frank’s screen.
“Yes, Hector?”
“Frank, we managed to get some better images of both missiles, so I’ll wing them to Andromeda.”
“Ok,” Frank acknowledged, then saw the images appear on his screen.
He studied the pictures of the Garoden missiles that had been taken by Argonaut. One of which, the Argonaut believed could be a subspace limpet tracking device.
He could see that both of them were similar in length, and diameter. Frank then saw what appeared to be a disrupter blister on the front end, or nose, of both missiles. H’mm, so their field disrupter units must be better than ours, to have penetrated both the Crillon and Solveron’s defense systems, he thought to himself.
However, the similarity between each missile ended there. The first missile didn’t have a stealth coating and was sleek, dark and very dangerous looking. Whereas, the one he thought to be the tracker, clearly had a stealth coating, albeit very inefficient. And an odd looking array that, if they were right, must be the limpet attachment assembly.
The first three dark missiles were obviously the ones that Andromeda sensed. While the tracking missile was cloaked.
So, that’s why the Andromeda didn’t register it, he decided.
-Ω-
“That was easy, Excellency,” Griken announced as the alien ship vanished.
“And, see here. Our tracker has activated. So these aliens will lead us straight to their home system without knowing.”
Verice looked at Griken’s screen. He knew what the data flow symbol looked like on his science officer’s display, and was pleased that these blue ships were now out of the equation.
So predictable. Having to drop their disruptor field to jump, he thought to himself.
“When the rest of the fleet arrives, we’ll have enough particle beam weapons to blanket-fire Space around these cloaked ships, and destroy them,” he confidently stated.
“True, Excellency…But, before you decide, you need to look at this.”
Verice peered at Griken’s large screen. It was full of symbols, some of which weren’t known to him.
“See these, Excellency?” Griken said pointing at specific symbols.
“This is where we are, here… Our wrecked Pathfinder is here. That’s eight hundred million kilometers from us, and nine hundred and thirty million from the planet.”
“Yes, yes. I can see that.” Verice exclaimed.
“Of course, Excellency,” Griken hastily replied. Then, pointing at his screen again said.
“This planet, here. Is where the signal from the survival pod originated.”
“Excellent,” Verice said, nodding.
Then Griken pointed to another symbol. “So, we are confident that this, here. Is where we hit a cloaked alien ship, Excellency.”
“And?”
“Well, it seems that our sensors managed to separate that, well, that warp entry, to show that there were, in fact, two alien ships,” he replied.
“So, Excellency. If the aliens were able to repair the ship, we hit. Wouldn’t both vessels then try to return to virtually the same point?” he asked.
“I see where you’re going with this, Griken. Nevertheless, we agreed not to move position until the rest of the fleet joins us.”
“I know, Excellency. But can’t you see? It doesn’t matter who they are. Or even if they are cloaked. We know they can’t destroy us.” Griken replied.
“Griken, do I have to remind you that something destroyed our Pathfinder ship?” Verice irritably asked.
“Yes, that is a worry… But, more importantly, our companion brains also felt a mental intrusion. And that might be more dangerous than any weapon the aliens may have.” Griken replied. Then paused, waiting for a reaction, that didn’t come.
“So, I think we should move closer to the position where I expect both of their ships to exit warp,” he added.
“Hmm, perhaps. Even so, we have all the power we need to just go on and reduce that planet to dust, whenever we want.”
“I agree, Excellency… Nevertheless, the longer we stay here, the more uneasy I feel.”
Verice paused, on hearing Griken’s warning. He trusted Griken and respected his views on most things.
Having given the situation more thought, however, he decided that he needed to know exactly how far the planet was from them, before making his decision.
Then instructed his companion to extract the information from his Navigation Officer’s Companion brain.
But, Cratic’s Companion instantly sent a sharp disapp
roval jab to Verice’s in reply.
So, Verice’s companion overrode Cratic’s. Found the information. Then informed Verice that the distance was now 1point 6322 billion kilometers.
Verice pondered on this for a moment, before making his decision. Then said, “No, Griken, we will sit tight, and wait.”
Griken was annoyed. He sensed that Verice’s companion brain was more concerned with the possibility of further mental intrusions, than in taking necessary actions.
After a few moments, Viceroy Verice brought up a timeline, showing the expected arrival of the rest of his fleet. So, just thirty-eight minutes, he thought to himself.
Then started drawing up a message for his Fleet Commanders. When finalized, it would be tagged so that it could be auto-sent to each of the ships on their arrival.
His message was to inform them of the present situation. Provide details of the slight change to his existing plan. And, include orders for the actions he wanted them to take.
Knowing that the blue alien ship had a Garoden tracker attached. And that Captain Stugron’s Star-Destroyer was monitoring its location signal. Verice had now decided that his Star-Destroyers Z187 and Z188 should immediately go after this ship. Then follow it to the alien’s home planet.
The changes to his original plan also dictated that the two Star-Destroyers, on exiting warp when they reached the alien’s homeworld location. Would then use their Planet Destructor weapons, to destroy the alien’s planet.
After which, Z187, and 188 would immediately join up with Verice’s fleet, again.
Then he thought about how easy it was going to be to destroy the planet. They would only need two PDW missiles. With each multi-warhead missile system entering its atmosphere on opposite sides from each other.
Both would then open up, and discharge twenty deep-penetration warheads into the Planet’s surface. The penetration warheads would then drill through its crust, and on through its mantle.
Then, at a predetermined level, all of the warheads would simultaneously detonate, blowing the planet apart along its major tectonic fault lines.
On thinking it over, Viceroy Verice finally decided that ‘Yes, things seemed to be going well.
Chapter 29
One Light-year out
The Starcruiser Neutron together with the damaged Starship Michigan, still sat, motionless in space, and one light year away from where the Michigan had clashed with the alien ship, just under an hour earlier.
Sherman was worried about what they would be jumping back into. But, he knew it was time for them to re-join the Argonaut and Andromeda StarShips… If they were still in one piece, of course.
Now, they were running the final simulation tests on the ship’s repaired sequencer and its damaged stealth area. With the Michigan’s stealth having been fixed, courtesy of the Neutron’s temporary stealth wing’s mosaics.
They had already repaired and tested other equipment that had been damaged by the Garoden’s attack.
Ten minutes later, with everything having passed muster. Captain Sherman slowly eased the Neutron away from the Michigan, as they readied themselves for the jump back into, who knew what.
“Tom,” he called over the Neutron’s open comms link. “Our console shows that we are ready to go… But, are you and Bob locked down?”
“Yes. Ready and waiting, to go, captain.”
Then Sherman called Captain Campbell, in the Michigan.
“Captain, we’re ready to jump. Are you?”
Terry, smiled to himself, realizing Chris Sherman had reverted to being formal again.
“Yes, Chris. But hang on a moment, we’re just about to synchronize our jump sequence,” he said.
Then Captain Sherman ordered Bob to sync to the Michigan’s Jump configuration.
Barlow then tapped the relevant icons on his screen to bring up the warp initiation data. A few seconds later the words, Jump Synced, lit up next to the data.
“Synced, captain,” Bob confirmed. Then looked at the data again.
“H’mm, not exactly the same coordinates as the ones we jumped from,” he muttered.
“Michigan’s in sync,” Captain Campbell reported. “Control countdown instigated.”
Well, this is it, Sherman thought to himself, as he watched the count-down display.
Just five minutes, transit time. Then, it’s do-or-die.
Chapter 30
Bad News
Frank was still reeling from the fact that there had been a fourth Garoden missile. And that, as a result, Savron might have a tracking unit on his ship.
Worst still was the fact that Savron wouldn’t even know about it until he exited warp close to his home planet, Solvera.
Then Andromeda interrupted his thoughts, as she relayed an urgent private message for him, from Earth.
“Message from Director J. Medcalf, to Captain Richardson. Andromeda, Delta Pavonis.
15th July 2311. Earth Central time.
Frank. I’m sorry to tell you. But, it seems that our worst fears have been realized. I’ve just been informed that the Space Federation has been officially taken over by Earth’s Military. At the moment, the Space Federation is still in operation.
Apparently, Commodore Chris Winton, or Admiral Winton, as he now calls himself, will take command of all of our Capital ships on his arrival. This means that the Andromeda and Neutron will be the only ones, not under his control. So, this could cause a conflict of interest.
Winton is on board the Starship Jefferson, but he has his own staff, now, and a load of marines. Captain Ted Garret, Jefferson’s captain, isn’t a happy man.
Watch your back, Frank. As soon as I have anything else, I’ll inform you.
Good luck to you all.
Jack Medcalf. Director. Space Federation operations.
Frank felt sick as he listened to the message. He was sure he’d heard of this Winton guy, way back when he was running a shuttle out from Earth to Mars.
However, Jack was right, he thought. Now wasn’t the time for operational confusion.
He knew that Susanna, Charlotte, and Cindy, would have heard Jack’s message as well. But, so far they had refrained from commenting.
Then Susanna decided to speak. “Uncle Jack took a risk sending that, Frank,” she exclaimed. “Let's hope he knows what he’s doing,” she added.
Then his mind wandered as he thought about Jack and Georgina looking after their son, Alex. And, about whether or not there would be any repercussions over Jack sending the message.
Susanna could feel Frank’s concern.
Just then, they were jolted back to the present, as all four of them felt a warp entry, not far away.
“I’m pretty sure that was the Michigan and Neutron arriving, Frank,” Charlotte told him.
“Four to five minutes to exit, at a guess.”
“Agreed. Charlotte, how come we can estimate warp transit time?”
“It just comes with practise,” she answered.
“H’mm,” Frank replied, then turning his attention back to the main screen, saw that the two Garoden ship’s Icons were still stationary.
The only other ships Icons displayed were those of the Andromeda, Argonaut, and the remaining Solveron ship.
Both of the Earth ships Icons were green, indicating that they were operating in stealth mode. While the Solveron ship’s Icon was bright blue.
Sitrea, the Solveron’s Captain, had parked his ship, just behind the fifth planet, and out of sight of the two Garoden vessels.
He was still patiently waiting for the rest of the alien fleet to exit warp space. Only then could he start tracing the origins of the latest wormhole threads.
‘Andromeda. Don’t let us be caught napping,’ Frank urged.
‘I am battle ready. But, you have the solution in your own hands, Frank,’ she enigmatically stated.
All four looked expectantly at his hands… Nothing.
“Clarify,” he ordered aloud.
“I’m not sure why. But my a
wareness tells me so.”
“What a load of rubbish, Andromeda! Charlotte?”
“Maybe the Neutron has a part to play?”
“Do you mean that you don’t know?”
Frank tried to pick up some hidden meaning in Andromeda’s words but gave up. What’s different about the Neutron, he then wondered.
“Andromeda, play back the moment that the Neutron and Michigan jumped.”
The replay ran for just eight seconds, but there was no clue in it. Puzzled, he called Hector over the ship-to-ship tight-beam link.
“Hector… I need to know something, and I daren’t contact Earth. But you’ve had more access to the new ships than Andromeda…”
“That’s right. But that’s only because you and Andromeda were kept out of any new developments. Don’t forget, you’re in the business of travelling to the other planets now. If you get my meaning?”
“So, do you mean that I’m a risk?”
“Not exactly… Anyway, what do you want to know?”
“Tell me how the Neutron managed to attach itself to the Michigan, Hector. I can’t see how they did it. Let alone how they were able to get both ships to Jump together.
Can I assume they were clamped together?”
“I don’t follow you.”
“I watched a replay of the jump, but couldn’t see a jump-focusing extension ring on the Neutron.”
“That’s because the ships built since the Argonaut, have a fixed jump-focusing ring. You probably wouldn’t have noticed it anyway, because it’s virtually flush with the hull.”
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.’ Page 17