“Chakra is fast. If we find the phantom, we run it down and disable it. If we can’t do that, we run for help.”
“I hear, Tei.” Jozka turned back to his station.
* * *
Aboard ASN Canada, inner belt, Shan system
“Dammit!” Captain Jeff Colgan said as he watched the Shan ship approaching.
The stupid fools were seen! They must have been!
Canada’s bridge crew kept their eyes lowered to their stations as Colgan vented his spleen over the ineptness of a certain ship’s captain, namely Cynthia Monroe. Monroe was skipper of the light cruiser ASN Invincible. Unfortunately, she seemed to believe the name extended to her own abilities.
“Get me Invincible,” Colgan said through gritted teeth.
“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Ricks said, and moments later the Shan ship on the viewscreen was replaced by Cynthia Monroe.
“What can I do for you, Jeff?”
“I assume you’re monitoring the Shan light cruiser.”
“Of course.”
“That ship has been patrolling the outer system without deviation since I’ve been here, Cynthia. Then you show up and it starts a search pattern. Why do you think it’s heading here now?”
Monroe frowned. “It’s patrolling not searching—”
“Don’t give me that,” Colgan began hotly, but then realising he was berating a fellow captain in front of witnesses, he forced himself to calm down. “You and I both know you were detected, but that doesn’t matter now. That ship has just finished an exhaustive search of the outer belt and found nothing. Now it’s coming here to do the same thing. That ship isn’t going to give up until it finds us… or rather you.”
Monroe’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? What have you got in mind?”
“My mission is too important to abandon, and you’re faster than me anyway. I suggest you run for it and allow the Shan to catch a glimpse of you before jumping out. With luck, they’ll give up the search when they see you go.”
“Dangerous, Jeff,” Monroe said worriedly. “Without me you have no backup at all.”
Colgan shook his head. “Not so dangerous as all that. Under no circumstances will I fire on the Shan, so adding your guns to mine is pointless. Besides, if you’re careful you could sneak back in after the system settles down again.”
Monroe nodded reluctantly. “Do you or the boffins need anything before I go?”
Colgan sighed in relief. “I can’t think of a thing. I’ve no doubt the profs would like the entire Alliance database, but they’ll make do. They had better!”
Monroe chuckled but it was a strained sound. “Well, if I’m going I might as well do it now. Good luck, Jeff.”
“And to you.”
The screen cleared to show the Shan ship decelerating hard as it approached the belt.
Colgan watched it come, and felt only admiration for a people that could build such beautiful ships. They were sleek and agile, but they lacked jump technology. They had fewer weapons than a Human ship of the same class, but for all of that they were beautiful. Human ships were never so fine looking—they were designed to kill Merkiaari, not look pretty.
“Split screen,” he ordered. “Invincible on the left.”
“Aye, sir,” Ricks said and the screen changed to show both ships.
Invincible was manoeuvring. She had lain doggo against an asteroid for weeks, but now she was breaking for open space.
“Any indications that the Shan have seen her?”
“None, Skipper.”
Colgan frowned. “Damn peculiar. They barely caught a glimpse of her when she came in, but that was enough to start a manhunt. Now when she strolls out into the open, they don’t react at all.”
“Invincible is still in stealth mode, Skipper,” Commander Groves said. “Maybe the Shan can’t see her.”
Colgan pursed his lips, not sure he agreed. “She was stealthed when she came in. They saw her then.”
“Maybe not,” Groves mused. “Maybe they saw the jump signature.”
“They don’t have jump technology.”
“True, but does that mean their sensors are inferior?”
“You’re right.” He had become so used to his technological superiority that he had assumed it covered all areas of ship design, but that was not proven. Just because Invincible was jump capable with superior weapons didn’t mean she had superior sensors. “Inform Invincible of your thoughts, XO.”
“Aye, sir,” Groves said and keyed a channel open herself.
While his exec was doing that, Colgan concentrated on watching the Shan ship. Invincible was almost clear of the debris now. She would be firing up her mains any minute. Surely, the Shan would see that. They must.
“Invincible concurs with our assessment, Skip,” Groves said.
Colgan nodded. “Sound battle stations, Mark.”
* * *
Throughout Canada, the, siren screamed and her crew ran to emergency and battle stations. In the bowels of the ship, damage control parties scrambled into hard suits, while elsewhere, the crew pulled on their gloves to seal their uniforms and put on their helmets. The system was a good one, proven time and again against the Merkiaari, but of course civilians had never needed to seal themselves into unfamiliar uniforms. There were difficulties.
“Ma’am, you have to twist it clockwise,” an exasperated Chief Williams said to Janice Bristow, as he tried to make her stand still long enough to show her the proper way to suit up.
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I assumed anyone with half a brain would know that when you tighten something, it is clockwise!”
Brenda smirked, but then her face flushed when she noticed the plumbing connections in her uniform. “No way, that will never fit!”
Williams, looking harried, turned to see what the problem was. “Ma’am, these uniforms are proven technology. It will fit. They always fit.”
“Put it on, Brenda,” James said hustling her toward the hatch. He was already in his plain white uniform and was sealed except for his helmet. He had worn one since the first day of their journey, and was told he looked good in it. “I know it will feel odd, but without your uniform you could die.”
“Easy for you to say,” Brenda grumbled as she stripped in the privacy of an adjoining cabin. “You don’t have a pipe the size of…”
“I get the picture,” James said hurriedly. “You’ll be pleased to have it if you’re caught short.”
“What?” Brenda’s voice came muffled through the hatch.
“I said, you’ll be pleased to have it if you’re caught short.”
Mumble, mumble, mutter!
“God, this thing is huge. Arghhh! Goddamn sonofa—”
“Are you all right in there?” He reached toward the scanner to open the hatch. “Do you need any help?”
“You stay out there, I’m nearly done.”
James smirked but he was pleased to see her come out fully dressed and sealed into her new uniform. It hugged her figure and suited her. Janice was putting her helmet on, and James did likewise. He looked around and found his colleagues all sitting and strapping in. He took Brenda’s arm and led her to an empty seat where he helped her connect her life-support and strap in. He sat beside her and held her hand.
“The boffins are sealed and secure, sir,” Williams said and strapped in nearby.
“Understood Chief. Keep an eye on them, they’re important,” Lieutenant Ricks said over the comm.
“Aye, sir.”
* * *
“All stations report manned and ready, Skipper,” Lieutenant Ricks said.
Colgan nodded. “Good.”
“The civs are all secure, sir,” Ricks reported again a moment later. “I have Chief Williams babysitting.”
“Good work,” Colgan said. “I’ll have to schedule some training for them. They took way too long to get themselves sealed.”
“They weren’t wearing uniform, Skipper.”
“Why the he
ll not?” he said and glared at Ricks, but he knew why. “From now on they wear the uniforms we supplied. No exceptions—it’s damn dangerous.”
“Aye, sir. I’ll inform them.”
Colgan nodded and dismissed the civs from his thoughts. “Weps, under no circumstances are you to open fire on the Shan.”
“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Ivanova said. “Point defence?”
“Point defence free.”
“Aye, sir,” Ivanova said happily. “Point defence now active. Auto loaders functioning normally, targeting computers online.”
Colgan nodded. “Helm, be prepared to move on a moment’s notice. I don’t expect we will have to, but be prepared all the same.”
“Aye, sir.”
* * *
Aboard Chakra, approaching inner belt, Shan system
“Commencing deceleration,” Jakinda announced.
“I hear,” Tei’Varyk said. “Eyes to maximum, claws to standby.”
“I hear, his claws are sharp,” Kajika said.
“I hear, his eyes at maximum. Indications negative at this time,” Tarjei said, but her voice was harmonious.
Tei’Varyk smiled at her. They had spent the journey to the inner belt alone together. It had been a wonderful time, full of quiet conversations and lovemaking. He felt much closer to her now, and knew she felt the same. They had needed the intimacy to cement the bond. They were truly mated now, and Tarjei was calmer and more harmonious for it.
He was too.
Tei’Varyk studied his displays and chewed his whiskers thoughtfully at what was reported. Nothing. He had been so sure, but it looked as if they would be searching for a long time just as before. He looked away for a moment, but his eyes snapped back to his display just as a red light blinked into being followed by numerals detailing velocity and vectors.
“Detection!” Tarjei shouted.
“Identify,” Tei’Varyk snapped, as the computers realised the target was unknown and, sirens wailed. “Silence that.”
“I hear,” Jozka replied and cut the sirens.
“Unable to identify. Target: alien warship. Type unknown, class unknown. Weaponry exceeds our own by… two orders of magnitude—” Tarjei reported and continued detailing the target.
Order of two! That meant this alien ship was as close to a heavy fang as made no difference. Chakra was a light fang, fast and manoeuvrable, but the heavies were all weapons and power. Was this alien built along the same lines?
“Pursuit course,” he snapped. “Sound alert!”
“I hear,” Jozka said, and another siren growled throughout the ship making hackles rise.
Crew males and females dashed on all fours in some cases, in an effort to be first at their stations. Such primitivism was frowned upon usually, but not when the ship was on battle alert. Whatever worked, was the watchword in these cases.
Chakra swung nimbly onto a new heading.
Tei’Varyk’s tail lashed with his excitement. He had to force it to be still. “Why did Chakra’s eyes find him so easily?”
“Unknown, Tei.” Tarjei tried to refine the data on the alien. “We found him, but the intruder was already leaving the belt at that time.”
That was very wrong. Why leave the safety of the belt when Chakra’s eyes failed to find him time and again? It made no sense. Things that made no sense lacked harmony and were therefore suspect.
“Fire to disable as soon as he’s in range,” Tei’Varyk ordered.
“I hear,” Kajika said calmly. “Target locked, but still out of range.”
“Inform the elders of what is occurring,” he said without taking his eyes from the display. They were gaining, but much too slowly. How could a heavy fang, even an alien one, accelerate so fast?
“I hear,” Jozka said.
Tei’Varyk pressed a control on his station and another screen lit. “Tei’Unwin, Chakra pursues.”
“I hear, Tei. I have been monitoring.”
Tei’Unwin was Chakra’s alternate commander. It was comforting to know that Chakra would be well cared for when Tei’Varyk was gone.
“I knew you would be. In the event Chakra’s command deck is destroyed, you will command. I order the alien disabled at all costs, even that of Chakra himself.”
“I hear,” Tei’Unwin said grimly. “It will be done.”
Tei’Varyk keyed the screen clear and noted the alien was pulling ahead. It was incredible. No heavy fang could accelerate like this.
“The elders say good hunting,” Jozka said.
“I hear,” he said. “Anything else?”
“They say Hekja, Hoth, and Neifon come.”
His ears twitched and relief flooded through him. “I hear.”
Three heavy fangs should be more than enough. The alien was still opening the range, but it was deep in system and would not escape. Even if he knew where the ship was trying to escape to, which he didn’t, he was certain it could not… but where was it going? Tei’Varyk shifted uncomfortably at his station. Unanswerable questions always made him twitchy. This one had been asked time and time again without an answer. Who knew where the Murderers came from?
“Display current location of Hoth, Hekja, and Neifon,” he said.
The viewer cleared and a tactical map of the system appeared. The three heavy fangs were moving to envelop the alien while Chakra chased him into the trap. It was too easy. He knew it was, but what else could he do?
Nothing.
“Go to maximum emergency power,” Tei’Varyk said quietly and ignored the hisses of shock.
“I hear,” Jakinda said prayerfully. “Accelerating to maximum emergency power.”
Now they were gaining, Tei’Varyk noted with approval.
* * *
Aboard ASN Invincible, Shan System
“The cruiser is gaining, Captain. CIC reports that the three heavies will be in range in two minutes,” Commander Hamilton reported.
Monroe nodded and studied the data on her number two monitor that CIC (Combat Information Centre) had gathered for her. She turned her attention to another of her repeater displays. Her number one monitor was currently mirroring in miniature the data displayed at Commander Hamilton’s station.
“Very good, XO,” Monroe said and turned to the helm. “Charge the jump drive.”
“Aye, Skipper,” Lieutenant Hadden said. “Drive will be hot in three minutes.”
“This might be a little tight,” she murmured uneasily. “Weps, point defence free, but no aggressive action. Defensive only. Clear?”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Irene Bishop replied. “Point defence online, no aggressive action.”
“Helm, go to evasive when necessary. Don’t wait for the order.”
“Aye, aye, Skipper,” Lieutenant Hadden replied tensely and firmed his grip upon Invincible’s stick.
* * *
Aboard Chakra, in pursuit of alien ship, Shan System
“Alien in range. Target lock confirmed… firing!” Kajika said.
Tei’Varyk watched Chakra’s claws reach out to rend the alien ship, but Kajika missed. Tei’Varyk leaned forward to study the data more closely. No, he hadn’t missed. Chakra’s eyes reported a definite hit, but the alien was unaffected. Tei’Varyk’s hackles rose and he shivered in fright. If Chakra’s main energy mounts could not hurt it, what would?
“No effect,” Kajika reported.
“Engage with secondary weapons, engage with everything!” Tei’Varyk gasped in shock when all his hits produced no effect.
“I hear,” Kajika said. “Launching torpedoes, firing secondary mounts, firing primaries.”
Tei’Varyk watched the torpedoes impact and detonate, but this time they definitely missed. Just as they reached terminal range, something detached from the alien and the torpedoes impacted it. Again, Chakra’s torpedoes flew straight to the target, and again they were decoyed off track.
“Save his torpedoes. Go to maximum rate of fire on all energy mounts.”
“I hear, Tei,” Kajika said making
the adjustment on his panel. “Firing energy weapons at maximum.”
“Chakra slows!” Jakinda reported.
Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement and watched grimly. Chakra’s weapons were energy hogs. Maximum rate of fire was causing him to sacrifice energy normally reserved for propulsion.
“Continue action,” he ordered grimly.
“I hear,” Kajika said.
“I hear,” Jakinda said. “Main propulsion heating beyond critical. Failure imminent.”
“Reduce by twenty percent and continue pursuit,” he said without fuss. He had been monitoring the situation closely on his own panel.
“I hear,” Jakinda said in relief as Chakra’s great engines cooled into the safe zone once again.
Chakra was losing the alien now, but it would remain in range for a while longer. The heavy fangs were just coming into range, and would have to take over from Chakra unless Tei’Varyk could somehow slow the alien. He could think of no way to do that. Everything he could do was being done.
“Alien wreckage detected,” Tarjei yelped in glee.
“Well done, Kajika!” Tei’Varyk howled his own excitement. “Continue action.”
“I hear!”
* * *
Aboard ASN Invincible, Shan System
Damage control parties scrambled in the darkness trying to patch the hole in Invincible’s defences. She had lost her aft launchers and boat bay, but worse than that; she was breached passed frame two hundred all the way to two-fifty. Over a dozen crewmen were killed when shrapnel shredded their uniforms opening them to vacuum. Finally, power was restored and the full horror was revealed. Dead crewmen littered the deck with blood and fluids splashed over the walls where the absolute zero of space it had frozen it solid.
“All right people,” O’Malley said coldly. “There’s nothing we can do for them. Get that blast door shut. We seal this section or we can’t jump.”
Swede lifted the wreckage clear by main strength and forced the hatch shut. Men rushed forward to help and welded it in position. The damage control party moved on, repairing what it could, sealing what it could not.
On the bridge, smoke hung thickly, but no one took notice. Monroe raged at the loss of her people, but she would not be the cause of another interstellar war. She could not, would not, fire back. She grimly held to her composure and watched the heavies bear down on her.
Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty Page 15