"First rule is that you run natively when around me," Marny said. "I'll brook no partial efforts and I'll make anyone who says anything bad run with us."
"I will gladly run as you say but I request that you do not intervene on my behalf," Semper answered.
"Great. I'll be in touch, I've got a date with a few kilograms of iron," Marny said.
Semper gave her a confused look, but turned and ran off. She leaned over and accelerated as her two-legged stride turned into a more graceful four-legged sprint.
Like running, Marny found that the weights had become heavier and her endurance had suffered considerably. After forty minutes of painful adjustment to her routines, she finally left Hornblower's gymnasium and made her way back to quarters.
"Good workout?" Nick asked quietly as he looked up from the vid panel in his lap. Marny smiled when she saw Peter's bassinette next to him.
"Glad to be working out," Marny whispered. "Did you feed him?"
"Yup. He's good," Nick said. "Change of subject. I just talked with Walser. We're tracking two Strix-flagged frigates next to the Joqi wormhole."
"Going to or coming from Joqi?" Marny asked.
"Came from the Joqi side, they've been orbiting for the last forty hours," Nick said.
"How do we know that? Our sensors can't resolve that far out."
"Abasi have access to information from a surprising number of sources. Moyo sent a data-stream after our last contact," Nick said.
As with all ships she'd sailed in, hard-burn made ship-to-ship communication impossible. To combat this, Marny, Moyo and Jamani had agreed to cut engines at the top of every hour for ten seconds. For the crew, it caused an uncomfortable lurch, but like all things, regularity removed much of the discomfort.
"Pogona crewed? Like what we ran into at the Santaloo-Tamu gate?"
"Yes, but they're part of the Chikkara security firm that provides escorts to high-value shipments," Nick said. "It's a well-respected company. I'm not sure they'd be involved in anything illegal, although they have had a few dust-ups that made the public news feeds."
"What kind of dust-ups?"
"Claims of unprovoked attacks," Nick answered. "But I don't think you can be a security firm without that. Loose Nuts had similar issues back when Belvakuski sent her people against us. I think it goes with the territory."
"It is suspicious that they're hanging out by the gate," Marny said.
Marny peeled off her vac-suit, padded over to the suit freshener and fed it in. She was surprised at Nick's sudden presence behind her as he ran a hand down her bare back.
"Not really," Nick whispered. "They could just be waiting for someone."
"Don't get too close. I just worked out." Marny chuckled as she turned back to him. "I'm fat and I stink."
Nick chuckled. "You're beautiful and I have soap." A loud cry from behind scuttled whatever momentum had been gathering in the romance department. "And … there went our ten-minute window of personal time."
Marny frowned at his disappointment, but there was nothing to be done about it. She quickly showered and dressed again.
"Headed to the bridge?" Nick asked, bouncing Peter as he swayed back and forth.
"Yes. Sorry," she said. "We'll find time for us."
"Get our crew back," Nick said. "That's our priority."
Marny leaned in and kissed her boys, each in turn. "You going to join us for transition?"
"I'll be up in about an hour. Flaer is expecting to relieve me then," he said.
Marny nodded and walked from the room, not sure what she'd done to deserve him. Without complaint, he'd picked up the slack for Peter's care, while still managing to run his company.
"Captain on the bridge," a crewman announced. She'd managed to arrive a few minutes before watch transition. In only a few minutes they'd be transitioning from hard-burn as they approached the wormhole endpoint.
"Gunnery Sergeant, you there?" Marny called.
"Roger that, Captain," Martinez answered. "I've been expecting your call, given the tin-pots waiting for our arrival. I've got a bad feeling about this."
"I've got a bad feeling about this. You got those two-fifties hot-loaded?" she asked.
"Don't tease a man if you don't mean it," he said, chuckling. "We're stacking ordnance in the hallways down here. We've been loaded hot since we were ten kilometers from dry-dock."
Marny smiled at the man's attitude. She'd come to appreciate his unfiltered approach to his job and had no doubt that his fire-control team was ready to be let off the leash.
"Tell the team that beer is on me if they shoot forties or above," she said.
"Now you're talking my language."
"Good. Now make me proud," she answered.
Fifteen minutes later, the sound of the bridge hatch opening caused her to look over. Ada strode in, still dressed in her pirate garb, nodding with a cocky grin on her face. "Sounds like someone's expecting trouble. About time we let this girl off her leash."
Marny wasn't sure how Ada received her information. She mentally marked the conversation as one she'd review at a later moment.
"We'll engage as the situation dictates," Marny answered. "You should know I intend to take a more aggressive stance this time around."
"Lieutenant Brown, I've got the helm and I'll thank you to turn over the watch to the Captain," Ada said, raising an expectant eyebrow at a crew member who occupied the pilot's chair she preferred. With a flourish, she swung the tails of her coat out as she sat, punching instructions into the virtual console that appeared in front of her.
Brown looked back to Marny, not sure what to do with Ada's unexpected swagger.
"Ms. Brown, do you have anything to report?"
"All hands, prepare to exit full-burn," Ada announced, ignoring the watch change protocol occurring behind her.
"Captain, we have two more bogies on sensors," Walser announced. "They just came through the worm-hole. No, make that four, bringing the total to six. They're all frigate class and have heavy kinetic armor as well as EM shields. They're state of the art."
"Open a comm channel," Marny said. "To the fleet assembled at Joqi wormhole. Keep a five-thousand-kilometer standoff or prepare to be fired upon. This will be your only warning. Hornblower out." Her words closed the comm channel, just as someone attempted to respond.
"Captain, Hunting Fog and Runs Before Wind are on comms," Walser announced.
"Go ahead, Moyo," Marny answered, chinning the prompt on her HUD to allow the rest of the command crew to join the conversation.
"Bold Second, we heard your communication with the Strix-flagged ships. What are your orders?" Moyo asked.
Marny nodded appreciatively. She'd wondered if the Abasi would be annoyed that she hadn't communicated her intent in advance or if they'd just roll with it.
"Jamani, those frigates are loaded for bear," Marny said. "I know you have a tough ship, but we need to keep one of the cruisers between Runs Before Wind and the enemy's main battle group as much as possible. I don't want to be slowed down by repairs if it can be avoided. This is not the moment to prove your capabilities. Do you copy?"
Jamani's face appeared on the holo projector in front of Marny. "Yes, Bold Second, I will follow orders as given."
Even with the separation caused by differing species, Marny could tell the woman did not like her orders and was possibly embarrassed by them.
"Scratch that, Jamani," Marny said. "I'll make it your responsibility – and this goes for you as well, Moyo. If one or more of us is damaged, we're going to continue the mission with whomever remains. Place a high priority on survivability, but if we get into it, do what you need to do. I'll be setting kill priorities and I expect them to be honored, although targets of opportunity are always welcome. Moyo, same thing. We sail together and keep formation around Hornblower but if we start combat, we make a statement."
Jamani's ears perked up in response and Marny saw a tail flicking behind her. "It will be as you have ordered, Bold Secon
d," Jamani answered.
"Would you mind a discussion on why you have changed strategies with the Strix-flagged ships?" Moyo asked.
"This group is different. As far as I know, there are no diplomats onboard," Marny said.
"But you did not allow for communication," Moyo answered.
"And therefore, there can be no misunderstandings."
"Captain, the frigates have formed up and we have an urgent comm request," Walser announced. "They're transmitting that we are in violation of Confederation laws and are ordering us to heave-to."
Instead of clearing out, the squadron of six frigate-class armored vessels had mobilized into a diamond formation directly between Hornblower and the gate.
"Mr. Martinez, load the forward 400mm guns and get a firing solution on the source of that comm," Marny said. "And make that lock of yours real obvious."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Martinez answered.
"Accept hail," Marny said, reading the ship's registration from the hovering text on her holo. "Burdak, you are advised to clear our navigation path. We intend to pass, no matter the cost."
"Hornblower, you are ordered to cease and desist." The face of Burdak's captain showed on the screen. The male Pogona was dressed in a crisp, dark vac-suit and had an obvious military bearing.
"Firing solution is green," Martinez said.
"Five hundred kilometers," Ada warned. "All hands prepare for combat maneuvers."
"Last chance, Burdak," Marny said, staring impassively back at the Pogona.
"Eat dung, human," Burdak's captain growled as he launched missiles.
Warning klaxons blared as the missiles acquired locks and bore down on the fast-approaching fleet. "Fire!" Marny responded. "Countermeasures!"
Hornblower bucked as twin 400mm cannons expelled their one-tonne projectiles. With almost identical timing, the entire firing plan of all nine ships executed and previously passive weaponry from the ships facing off in the deep dark, erupted in a blaze of angry glory.
Marny watched Martinez's crew as they attempted to pick off the incoming missiles. She winced as the AI-driven missiles anticipated Hornblower’s fire and evaded being struck down.
"Burdak is down. Deshi is down," Ada announced as two of the six frigates exploded on impact of the heavy ordnance tossed at them.
Hornblower rocked as two of the four missiles impacted her hull.
"Agah's engines are knocked out," Walser announced, indicating one of the remaining frigates.
Having passed each other in space, the two fleets shot well past each other, separating momentarily. Ada cursed under her breath as she fought inertia to redirect her lumbering giant and re-engage with the significantly nimbler frigates.
"Jamani, stay in formation," Marny warned, noticing that the Abasi frigate had turned and was giving chase to one of the remaining three frigates.
Jamani nodded curtly and flipped Runs Before Wind on its horizontal axis so it fell back in line with its much larger companions.
"They're breaking off," Ada announced.
Having taken fifty percent casualties and the loss of their lead ship, Burdak, the rest of the Strix had disengaged. Marny wasn't surprised.
"They flee with small sails," Jamani said. "Runs Before Wind could chase them down and break their heels."
"We're receiving a distress signal from Agah," Walser announced.
Before Marny could respond, a missile streaked from Hunting Fog, destroying the wounded ship.
"Engineering, get me a damage report. All ships, prepare for transition to the Joqi system," Marny said.
"And that's how the big girls play." Ada mimed, shooting at one of the burning hulks with a non-existent pistol. She pulled her finger back, blew across the top and pretended to holster it at her waist before leaning forward to set a navigation plan to the wormhole.
Chapter 15
Siege
"What do you mean Marny is twenty-seven days out?" Tabby asked. "We'll never last that long. What happens when they send an army of ten thousand or a hundred thousand?"
From the elevated position we'd taken next to Gaylon Brighton's turret, we surveyed the field of battle in front of us. According to my AI, we'd arrived just in time to repel a swarm of twelve hundred warriors. Though it was a staggering number, Tabby was right. The resources of the Kroerak empire seemed infinite and the force we'd just stopped was a drop in the bucket. To make matters worse, both of our Popeyes had run out of fuel toward the end of the fight and had become little more than lifeless sentries.
"If the Kroerak were capable of sending a larger force, they would have," Sendrei answered. "It is likely this group was an advance force sent to take us off guard. The main force will likely arrive on Jonathan's original schedule."
"Sendrei's analysis fits with our own," Jonathan said. "We believe it reasonable to assume their fastest ships were sent ahead and that we will have a short reprieve."
"Our priority has to be getting the city's defensive weapon running," Sendrei said. "Without it, the Kroerak fleet will have space superiority. They won’t need to send warriors when they can simply drop bombs on our location."
"How close is the weapon to being operational?" I asked.
"We believe it is just a matter of arming it with Iskstar," Jonathan answered. "There are eight charging circuits where the tuning crystals need to be located. We saw that you retrieved these while beneath the mountain."
I pulled out the pouch that held the remaining nine hand-length crystals, one of which was slightly shorter and broader than the others. I retrieved the shorter crystal and stuffed it into a pocket where I'd held its twin for so long. When I offered the pouch to Jonathan, he held up his hands in protest. "We do not believe it prudent to come into contact with the Iskstar," Jonathan said.
I shrugged. I'd developed a certain affinity for the blue rocks and felt reluctant to hand them over anyway. "I don't think they're dangerous."
"The Iskstar does not appear to be intentionally harmful to human or Piscivoru," Jonathan said. "We find it concerning that you, Tabitha, and the Piscivoru have become unwitting hosts."
"Who's unwitting?" Tabby asked, not paying attention to the conversation.
"Jonathan's saying that we didn't ask for the Iskstar to make our eyes all glowy and maybe it wouldn't go quite as well for a silicate species," I said.
Tabby shrugged. "Wouldn't have made it this far without 'em. Feels like a win-win to me."
"Have you heard from Sklisk?" I asked. "I was hoping he was headed this way with fuel."
"We lost contact with the Piscivoru," Sendrei said.
"What do you mean? Like, we lost contact with all of them?" I nudged the prompts the AI provided on my HUD, asking if I wanted to open comm channels. In turn, each attempt failed as I reached out to Jaelisk, Sklisk, and on down the line.
I'd abandoned my Popeye in the last battle so I flew above the ancient military base using my grav-suit. The ruined downtown area of Dskirnss was thirty kilometers north and I pushed my suits sensors to locate signs of life. My heart sank as I found hundreds of Kroerak warriors crawling over the ground as they searched for life. The bunker wasn't within my line of sight and Kroerak definitely controlled the ground nearby.
"What do you see?" Sendrei asked.
"More Kroerak," I answered, flicking the view from my HUD back to the three of them.
"Frak!" Tabby said, flying up next to me. "They kept us distracted so they could murder the Piscivoru."
She was right but we all knew what the options were. "We didn't have a choice. If we hadn't arrived at the defense weapon when we did, the Kroerak would have taken this base. Without the base, Picis will fall."
"What difference does that make if all the Piscivoru are dead?" Tabby asked hotly, sitting back down on the platform next to Sendrei.
"There are fifty Piscivoru on this base," Sendrei answered, grabbing Tabby by the shoulders. "We will keep them alive and we will last until Marny arrives. We can only do what we can."
> "So many deaths," Tabby said. "The cost is too high."
Heavy against my body sat the crystal for Gaylon Brighton's second turret, which sat lifeless atop the bunker and warehouse space near the city. If I'd left it behind to be installed in that turret, maybe the Piscivoru would have had a chance. My mind flitted to the goofy little faces of Baelisk and Boerisk. Had I unwittingly killed them? My self-loathing was fortunately interrupted.
"We require your attention," Jonathan said.
"What is it Jonathan?" I worked to bring my attention back to him.
"A second force approaches."
"Seriously?" Tabby asked, annoyed.
For a moment, the four of us were quiet as we studied what Jonathan's sensors had picked up. There was indeed a large force moving our way from the southeast. In addition, the bugs wandering around near Dskirnss appeared to be gathering and heading our way.
"That's twice the size of the first wave," I observed.
Tabby’s hushed voice embodied all our frustration. "We're out of fuel."
"The earth machines have to have some fuel left," I said. "Go scavenge."
"It won't be enough," Tabby argued as the combined fuel levels appeared on our HUDs. She was right, there was barely enough fuel to bring us both up to a third.
"Do it," I snapped.
"Aye, aye," she replied angrily, my outburst spurring her into action.
"Sendrei, get that main weapon online," I said.
"Roger that, Captain," he replied, his voice hard with resolve. We both knew the city's defensive weapon would add no value against a ground assault, but we couldn't allow an arriving fleet to further complicate our situation.
"We will aid Tabitha," Jonathan said.
I climbed into the turret, grabbed the controls and spun it around. Sendrei had done a nice job of mounting the turret and it moved smoothly, giving me a full view of the compound out to roughly two kilometers in most directions. The Piscivoru had built the base on the side of a broad plateau, which provided natural protection in the form of a two-hundred-meter cliff edge at our backside. I didn’t dare completely ignore the cliff, but it was the least likely approach for our enemies.
Fury of the Bold Page 17