by Ryk Brown
“I told you to shut up!” Marcus barked.
“Could you at least pass the idea on to Captain Scott?” Del pleaded.
Marcus sighed. “I’ll tell him,” he promised, “if you go back to building that missile launcher system.”
“Deal,” Del agreed, smiling.
Josh watched as Del left. “I like him.”
“You’re an idiot,” Marcus grumbled, returning to his work.
* * *
The sights, sounds, and smells of the morning on the moon of Haven were the same as any other day. Amber light cast unnatural shadows across the dusty landscape. People bundled in heavy, brown clothing designed to protect them from the dust moved about as they started their day. The aroma of fried molo was everywhere.
Primarily a mining colony, Haven’s only spaceport was always busy with harvesters and cargo shuttles coming and going. Customers from all over the Pentaurus sector came to Haven for the cheap ores harvested from the parent planet’s dense, rocky rings. Even with the time and distances involved in interstellar travel, most worlds found it cheaper and easier to get their unrefined ores from Haven. The advent of the jump drive made it all the more cost effective. Now, populated worlds need not dirty their own planetary systems with mining operations, nor risk the lives of their own people by exposing them to the dangerous process. Haven had all they needed.
The Haven Syndicate had laid claim to the system centuries ago, having left the safety of the burgeoning Takar system. The Takaran population expansion had been rapid, and the need to reform their rocky planets into hospitable worlds had robbed them of safe access to more local resources.
Over the centuries, the syndicate had grown and had not only became the premier provider of ores, but also a place where the indebted could escape even harsher punishment for their unpaid balances. Many had served sentences lasting several years. For those who survived, some wore it as a badge of honor, others as a shame that was never spoken of again. For those who were born on Haven and lived out their lives there, it just was what it was. Home.
The one thing Haven never seemed to be, however, was a place of strategic importance. Although it was not far from most inhabited systems in the Pentaurus sector, it was far enough removed from the common shipping lanes that the few empires that had come and gone since the sector was first settled had never shown much interest.
Until now.
Countless flashes of blue-white light appeared in the amber skies over the Haven spaceport. Small, almost imperceptible weapons descended quickly toward the surface, adjusting their course as they fell. One by one, in rapid succession, the weapons found their targets. Without favor, the weapons destroyed defenses as they swung into action, ships as they took off and landed, and support buildings all around the spaceport.
The second wave came less than half a minute after the first but did not target the spaceport. Instead, it struck infrastructure. The main power plant, the propellant refineries, and the water reclamation plant—all succumbed to brilliant yellow-orange explosions.
The third wave was the worst. It targeted neither defenses nor infrastructure. It targeted the population. Hotels, restaurants, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals…even the miner’s guild building—all wiped from the surface.
Within two minutes, Haven City was turned into a pile of burning rubble, littered with the scorched bodies of people whose only crime was living. The only building still standing was the Haven Syndicate’s headquarters. Survivors from the outskirts of the city and the country molo farms further out would speculate for years to come as to why the Syndicate survived. The Dusahn could have glassed the entire planet in minutes had they chosen to do so.
To the Syndicate, the reason was obvious. The Dusahn wanted them to see the price of direct opposition. More importantly, they wanted the other worlds in the Pentaurus sector to see it.
* * *
Nathan sat patiently, listening to Vladimir give his report on the Aurora’s ongoing repairs. The commander had been late to the morning briefing—likely due to any number of problems needing his attention—and was the last department head to give his report.
“So long-range jump capabilities will be back to one hundred percent in a week?” Cameron asked.
“Maybe five days, as long as we don’t have any more issues with the port power trunk,” Vladimir replied. “It would have been sooner, but since we are not going to rebuild the missing hull section above the port aft flight deck, we had to relocate a few emitters.”
“How long until the first XK will be ready?” Cameron asked Nathan.
“A week to ten days.”
“That soon?”
“Young Mister Bindi found us a few extra hands,” Nathan explained.
“A few?” Jessica laughed. “The place is crawling with them.”
“Marcus must love that,” Cameron decided.
“Well, he hasn’t killed anyone yet,” Jessica replied. “Not that he hasn’t wanted to.”
“Actually, I think he kind of likes them,” Nathan insisted. “They’re constantly showing up the SilTek engineer and droids, and Marcus hates them even more.”
“Josh is highly entertained by it all,” Jessica added, amused just thinking about it.
“The original plan was to just get the jump range improved enough to get us to Earth in less than a week and do the rest when we got back,” Nathan explained. “The SilTek engineers insisted that there was no way to get more than two hundred light years per jump out of an XK. It took the Subvert volunteers all of an hour to prove them wrong.”
“I think I like these guys,” Vladimir decided.
“You would,” Nathan agreed.
“What kind of range will you get?” Cameron wondered.
“Three hundred single-jump; six hundred one-minute,” Nathan replied. “One-hour recharge per bank.”
“That would get you to Earth in just a few hours,” Cameron realized.
“Yes, but unfortunately, we won’t have that range for our first trip. That kind of range will require larger ZPEDs and additional externally mounted energy banks. They’ll be doing that on a pair of engineering nacelles while we’re gone and then swap them out with ours when we get back.”
“They can swap out entire nacelles?” Vladimir asked, surprised.
“It takes about a week,” Nathan told him.
“What was the final armament package you decided upon?” Cameron asked.
“Four short-barreled mark three plasma torpedo cannons, uppers and lowers on each side, tucked just inside the nacelles,” Nathan began. “They’ll also have single mini-jump missile launcher tubes on either side, each with two twenty-missile magazines so we can have different loads to select from. Unfortunately, there’s not enough room for independently aimed launch turrets, so the ship will have to be pointed in the general direction of the target to launch.”
“That’s still a formidable offensive package,” General Telles stated.
“That’s not all,” Nathan continued. “They’ll also have six twin-barreled mark one turrets, all of them human-operated. Top and bottom of the mid-section, one on the outboard edge of each nacelle, a nose gun, and a slung-down tail gun that will be operated from the open utility bay.”
“So the tail gunner will have to wear a pressure suit?” Cameron asked, a bit surprised. “I wouldn’t want to man that gun.”
“Actually, the utility bays on the XKs already have a pressure shield across the opening. The operator will be able to stand in a pressurized bay and fire through the shield.”
“I’d rather wear the pressure suit,” Cameron insisted.
“I don’t blame you,” Jessica agreed. “You can bet your ass I’m not going to be operating that gun.”
“What about point-defenses?” General Telles wondered.
“Ten mini-laser turrets, controlled b
y the ship’s AI,” Nathan replied.
“So basically the XKs will be heavy gunships,” Cameron deduced.
“In the sense of size and crew requirements, yes, but there’s still one more weapons system we plan to carry that takes it beyond a heavy gunship. We’re loading a pair of P-Seventy-Two Lightning pocket fighters, equipped with Subvert’s swarm tech.”
“Pocket fighter?” the general asked.
“They’re basically beefed up, flying racecars,” Nathan explained. “Single-seat, twin plasma pulse cannons, and flechette rocket pods.”
“What is swarm tech?” Cameron wondered.
“Each pocket fighter carries thirty drones a little larger than your fist. They’re AI controlled, and each drone has its own miniature warhead. The AI directs them to attach to key locations on an enemy target and then detonate in the most destructive sequence possible. Since the pocket fighters can penetrate most energy shields, once inside, they can release the swarm and then jump out, letting the drones take out the target’s shield emitters. I figure a single XK equipped with pocket fighters can easily take down a couple destroyers or cruisers.”
“Perhaps we should consider integrating this swarm technology into a shield-penetrating jump missile?” General Telles suggested.
“My thoughts exactly,” Nathan agreed. “I’m planning on talking to Abby and Deliza about that later today.”
“You’re going to Rakuen?” Cameron asked.
“I’m hitching a ride on the Inman when she jumps back this afternoon. There are a few things I need to discuss with them.”
“I am curious about one thing,” General Telles stated. “Obviously, you will have to offer something other than protection to entice the worlds of the Pentaurus sector to join our alliance. Especially now that the Dusahn have had their strike capabilities curtailed.”
“But not completely curtailed,” Nathan pointed out. “According to Miss Bindi, the best way to entice other worlds to join our alliance is to improve their economies and their quality of life.”
“How do you plan to do that?” Cameron asked.
“That’s what I plan to talk with Abby about.”
The trim lighting in the command briefing room suddenly turned red, an alert klaxon sounded in the corridor, and Naralena’s recorded voice called the ship to general quarters.
Nathan tapped his headset as he quickly rose from his seat, along with everyone else. “Report?”
“Incoming missiles,” Naralena replied. “Aurora is defending.”
“On our way,” Nathan assured her as he and the others headed for the exit.
* * *
“Captain on the bridge!” the guard announced as Nathan, Cameron, and Jessica entered.
“Two waves of eight so far,” the tactical officer reported as he stepped aside to allow Jessica to take his station.
“You’ve got this,” Jessica told the lieutenant, staying near the comms station so as not to crowd the newly promoted, young officer.
The lieutenant nodded, returning to his station. “Both waves were from the same direction, arriving ten seconds out. Two struck the Glendanon’s shields, the rest were intercepted by point-defenses.”
“That’s pretty good for ten seconds,” Cameron commented.
“I told you giving her automatic defense rights would pay off,” Nathan reminded Cameron.
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure keeping all our point-defense turrets charged and ready twenty-four-seven helps.”
“We can’t keep that up forever,” Jessica said. “Those weapons need to be serviced from time to time, or we risk losing them completely.”
“Third wave,” Kaylah reported from the sensor station.
“About time,” Jessica scolded as Josh entered the bridge and passed by them on his way forward.
“Not like we’re going anywhere,” Josh grumbled, still looking half asleep.
“Point-defenses are firing,” the lieutenant reported.
“Same direction and range as before,” Kaylah added.
“Eight missiles again,” the lieutenant reported from the tactical station. “Four down…”
“Two more waves!” Kaylah interrupted. “One from starboard, one from directly ahead! Ten and twelve seconds!”
“Aurora, feel free to strategically cycle shield power,” Nathan instructed as he moved forward to take his place in the command chair.
Both Cameron and Jessica stepped forward, preparing to assist the lieutenant at the tactical console if needed now that the attack had intensified.
“Sixteen more missiles inbound!” Justan reported from the Glendanon’s makeshift tactical station. “Point-defenses are engaging, but there’s no way we’re going to get them all!”
“Five seconds to the first impacts!” the sensor officer warned.
Captain Gullen watched the overhead display to his left, noting the incoming missile tracks. “Divert power to forward shields,” he instructed. “Be ready to divert back to starboard shields after initial impacts.”
“It’s going to be close,” Justan warned.
Captain Gullen activated the ship-wide intercom. “All hands, brace for impact!” he warned.
A second later, the first missiles struck.
“The Glendanon took six simultaneous impacts to her forward shields!” Kaylah reported from the Aurora’s sensor station. “They’re down to twenty percent!”
“That wasn’t another harassment attack,” Nathan concluded. “They’re trying to take the Glendanon out so that she can’t support us.”
“Two more waves!” Kaylah added. “Wave one to starboard, twenty seconds out, coming over the horizon! Wave two directly ahead, thirty seconds out! Eight missiles in each!”
“Aurora is engaging the inbounds with point-defenses,” the lieutenant reported from the tactical station.
“Son of a bitch,” Nathan cursed. “Comms! Tell the Glendanon to break orbit and jump immediately!”
“Aye, sir!” Naralena acknowledged.
“Three inbounds down!” the lieutenant added.
“Josh, be ready to translate downward hard!” Nathan added.
“Four down!”
“Channeling all available thrust into downward translation thrusters,” Loki reported.
“Six down!” the lieutenant counted as the Aurora’s point-defenses blasted away at the incoming missiles. “Seven!”
“Glendanon is powering up her jump drive,” Kaylah announced. “Fifteen seconds to first impacts.”
“As soon as the Glendanon jumps, translate downward as hard as you can,” Nathan instructed.
“I’m ready,” Josh assured him, his hand on the controls.
“Five seconds!” Kaylah warned.
“Nine down!”
“Glendanon is jumping!”
“Translating down hard!” Josh followed.
The view of the planet on the main view screen began to rise, creeping upward toward them at an ever-increasing rate.
“Brace for impact!” Nathan called over the ship-wide intercom.
The impact never came.
“Last six missiles passed overhead!” the lieutenant exclaimed from the tactical station. “They’re headed away into open space!”
“Keep an eye out for another wave,” Nathan instructed. “Comms, send word to all elements in the counterstrike package. It’s time we put an end to these attacks.”
“Aye, sir,” Naralena acknowledged.
“Restore a stable orbit,” he ordered Josh.
“Already on it,” Josh assured him.
“Let me get this straight,” Ensign Weston said as he buckled into his seat. “We’re going to jump around the Takaran system, trying not to get our asses blown off by octos, just so we can relay strike orders to the Orochi, who are waiting at a safe distance?”
“That’s about it,” Lieutenant Haddix replied as he powered up their Reaper’s systems. “Everything ready back there?”
“Eight mini-jump comm drones are loaded and ready for deployment,” the ensign assured him as he checked his side of the console. “Flight, Reaper Six, ready for departure.”
“Reaper Six, Flight,” the controller replied. “Your call sign is Bird Dog. Cleared for immediate departure and jump-out. Report via JCD when on station.”
“Flight, Bird Dog, departing,” the ensign replied over comms.
“Let’s go have some fun,” Lieutenant Haddix said, pushing the throttles forward slightly, causing the Reaper to lift up off the Aurora’s forward starboard flight deck and begin accelerating forward toward the exit.
“It would be a lot more fun if we had eight missiles back there instead of comm-drones,” the ensign insisted.
The Corinari and Rakuen pilots had been expecting a call to action. Having received their orders yesterday, they knew what was expected of them, they just didn’t know when. But the moment they learned that another missile attack against the Aurora and the Glendanon had commenced, they had moved to their ships in anticipation.
Talisha Sane waited patiently in the open cockpit of her Nighthawk. Her reactor was already spun up, and Leta, her AI, was active. To her right and left, nineteen other Nighthawks were also spun up and ready, their pilots waiting patiently, their cockpits open like the gaping jaws of some mythical sea creature.
On the other side of the tarmac, a mere twenty meters away, twenty of the considerably larger Gunyoki fighters were also waiting for word, their pilots standing outside the ships. The Gunyoki fighters, which were tanks compared to the smaller, sleeker Nighthawks, were renowned for their uncomfortable seats. They were designed for a zero-gravity environment and had little padding. Talisha found it comical that the Rakuen engineers had not thought to improve the seats when they installed grav-lift systems, thus making the Gunyoki able to operate from the surface. By comparison, the seats in the Sugali fighters were lounge chairs. But the moment both ships got into space, the Gunyoki fighters definitely had the advantage. They were larger, heavier, better armed, and built to survive. In addition, they were quite maneuverable, and in an unpredictable fashion.