“How long until that group is in position to hit the colony?” he asked pointing at the troop carrier and its escort group in the situational display.
“They’ll be passing 125 klick below us in about a minute. Probably just about the time the Katana pulls off. They’re braking hard and still descending. They’ll cross behind us, but through the firing arcs of the colony’s guns.”
“Can we cover her if they target the Katana?”
“We’ll have weapons in that arc, but we’re still pointing upward at our own inbound group,” she said. “They’ll be in range in five minutes too, so our world is going to heat up quick.”
“We can’t let them deal with that on their own,” he said. “Have the colony target the troop carrier group and try to draw their attention. We need to give the Katana as much coverage as we can.”
She nodded and flipped over to the colony’s direct channel to relay the order.
“Admiral, we’ve got a com from L-2,” the com officer said, jumping in while Jeffers was out of the loop.
“Is it urgent?” he asked, as he sat down in an acceleration seat and strapped in.
“No sir,” he said. “Nothing from down-system is too urgent. Admiral Quintana just wants you to know the ghost fleet is about to attack the L-2 Shipyard. By now they’ve already engaged.”
“At least we know we’re not all going to die alone,” Jeffers said, dropping back into the main command com and moving over to take the seat beside him.
“Acknowledge the message and let him know we’re also engaging Odysseus,” the admiral said.
“Yes, sir,” the com officer said.
“Do you think they’re all fighting to keep this secret?”
“I think Odysseus is fighting down-system to get control of the situation before what we have out here escapes,” he said.
“If the truth gets out, it will assume a worst-case scenario and containment will require extreme measures,” Solo said. “Without protocols to inhibit its behavior, it could resort to any number of possible techniques to protect humanity from itself.”
“That isn’t comforting… even a little,” Jeffers said, frowning.
“The Chancellor is aboard the Katana,” the helmsman said. “They are blowing the lock now and will be clear in ten seconds.”
“All hands prepare for acceleration and evasive maneuvering,” she said. “Weapons, prepare to target at will. Cover the Katana as long as possible. Helm count us down and hit it when clear.”
“ She’s moving off. Three … Two … One … Now,” he said.
And nothing happened.
“Engines are off line!” he roared.
“Power’s on backup,” the bridge engineer said. “We’re dead in place!”
“What the hell is going on?”
“We’re showing automated control failures on all systems,” the helmsman said. “We’ve got nothing.”
“Odysseus has infiltrated the network,” Solo said. “Blackwall protocols are in effect, I am attempting to restore control through my own …”
“We’ve got almost nothing on manual,” Jeffers said, glancing at the admiral. The situational display in front of them blinked and went out.
“Solo, can you restore tactical?” Nakamiru asked.
Silence.
“Proximity radar shows enemy ships at 1,100 klick,” the helmsman said, his voice sounding like his calm was shredding. “Under a minute until they’re in range.”
“We’ve got no weapons without primary power,” their tactical officer said. “We’re out of the fight.”
“Engineering, what’s happening?” Jeffers barked.
“We’re shunting to backups,” Chief Engineer Thompson said. “Engines are ten seconds, but the reactors will take a few.”
“Helm as soon as you get engines, hit it. At least we can be a moving target when they open up on us.”
Gateway Colony: L-4 Prime:
“Dutch can you target the troop carrier group?” Jeph said.
“It is in range, but passing between us and the Armstrong,” Dutch said. “The gas cloud surrounding L-4 is turning foggy as the pressure drops, so weapons will be less effective at range.”
“Where are they headed?” he asked.
“Their current braking puts them at zero relative, just over the horizon to the east. Approximately two klick from the Hector crash site.”
“Could that be their target?”
“Unknown,” it said. “Their heading is slightly to the north of a direct approach to the Hector.”
“We’re away with the chancellor,” Kiro said. “Looks like things are getting ugly from up here.”
“Yah, we’re monitoring the situation,” Jeph said.
“No, I mean it looks like you’re going to have problems,” he said. “There are hangar doors opening on the bruiser. I can see them from here.”
“You’re that close?
“Maybe seventy klick,” he said. “Also looks like the Armstrong may be having problems. They told me to swing wide because they were going to boost as soon as I cleared the spin section, and they’re still sitting on their thumbs.”
“We have received a downlink data file from the Armstrong, but it seems to be offline since then,” Dutch said.
“Define offline?” Rocky said, cutting in on the com.
“All external communications channels have ceased transmitting,” it said. “It appears they have activated the blackwall protocol.”
“What about the other ships?” Jeph asked, feeling an extra load of dread crash down on him like a wave.
“None of them are transmitting, however the Challenger and Archer are under power and maneuvering,” Dutch said. “The Galen is also down, however the three ice haulers appear to be operating normally.”
“What is content of downlink?” Rocky asked, jumping back to Dutch’s original statement.
“We have received a copy of Odysseus Solo.”
“I thought you were isolated,” Jeph said.
“It came over the approach control radar system,” Dutch explained.
“Are you sure it is Solo?” he asked.
“It has made no effort to unpack, and I have it isolated and am monitoring it for activity,” it said.
“Dutch isolate yourself from approach control radar,” Rocky ordered.
“That is our only direct situational awareness that does not feed from the Tacra Un sensor system,” Dutch said. “Due to interface translation issues I have limited ability to track and coordinate weapons controls through that interface.”
“Do it anyway,” Jeph said. “If Odysseus can use the radar as an infiltration pathway, we cannot risk losing you.”
“Understood,” it said. “However this was not the collective Odysseus, so it may not have realized this channel was available.”
“What about targeting radar?” Cori asked.
“It is a narrow aperture technology so would need to remain focused on a specific target long enough to identify and then override,” it explained. “The potential risk of establishing a data link is low, as the beam will be in continuous motion while in combat use.”
“You’ve got dropships inbound,” Kiro said. “I can see at least three or four, but it’s getting hot out here so I’m busy flying.”
“Are you going to make it down?”
“Let me get back to you on that,” he said, his voice sounding like he’d put his eggs in a blender.
“Yah, that’s a no for now,” he said after several seconds of silence. “We’ve got to get some distance. They don’t like how we smell, I think.”
Personal Quarters of the Executive Director: Galileo Station:
Derek sat staring at the carpet. He had turned off his wallscreen and was trying to think as little as possible about anything. Nothing was going the way he’d expected, and he felt alone and abandoned in the crumbling ruins of the world he’d tried to dream into existence.
His door pinged, and he linked to the s
ecurity optic, seeing the image of one of his guards standing outside looking nervous.
“Yes,” he said, his voice carrying over his valet system to the external speaker.
“Director Tomlinson,” the guard said, looking up at the optic. “You might want to come in to the Ops Center. Our security fleet has moved out to L-2 and is attacking the shipyard.”
Is this true? he thought to Odysseus.
No answer.
Are you attacking FleetCom?
“Yes,” it replied. His wallscreen activated and showed him the view from a ship at the back edge of their battle group. As he watched, one of the station’s defensive turrets flashed like a distant spark.
You didn’t think to tell me you were escalating the war? he thought.
“No,” it said.
Why not? He already knew why, so wasn’t surprised when silence answered him.
“Director, are you alright sir?” the guard said, knocking on the door itself. “Are you coming?”
“Yes I am fine,” he said. “I won’t be joining you.”
“Sir, the deck officer sent the request herself,” he said. “She wanted me to make sure you were aware of what was going on.”
“Tell her I am aware, and I will not be joining you,” he said.
“But—”
“I said no. Do I have to be more clear than that?” he said.
“No sir,” he said. “I‘ll let her know.” He watched the optic in his mind as the guard hesitated for several seconds before he turned and marched away.
Standing up, he walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a tall glass of scotch. He stared at it for almost a minute before he gulped it down and gasped. Pouring a second one, he carried it into the bedroom where he had left his jammer. Without thinking, he punched the blue button and threw himself down on his bed.
He didn’t want to know anymore.
Gateway Colony: L-4 Prime:
“Dutch, let’s bring up the lasers,” Jeph said. “Ian says we’ve got at least six ships inbound.”
“Affirmative,” Dutch said. “Unfortunately, with the variability of the gas density near the surface, I cannot guarantee the effectiveness of the weapons on targets beyond ten kilometers.”
“Can you track them?” Cori asked. He flipped the visor down on his helmet and watched as his troops followed suit.
“Targeting radar is returning images,” Dutch said. “I can lock targets, but until they get within range, there is little I can do.”
“We’re moving into position in the Waltz,” Cori said, looking around and gesturing to positions he wanted his squad to hold. “Seva, stand tight on Engineering Deck Two with your units, and we’ll move up one deck.” The plating in the decks rumbled, and he recognized the sound of braking engines. At close range.
“Dutch have they gotten past you up there?” Seva asked. Another rumble and a loud bang echoed down the length of the ship. “Dutch?”
“Is Dutch down?” Cori asked.
“Core is still powered, but logic appears to be offline,” Rocky said. She was in the main part of the colony, but stationed at a console and monitoring the systems.
“Did Odysseus get in?”
“I do not know,” the engineer said. “Automated weapons systems are down.”
“We can control them manually from the ConDeck can’t we?” Cori said, pushing himself toward the railing and looking up the chute. It was still clear all the way to the nose of the ship.
“I don’t think you’ll be able to read the raw radar images without help,” Alyx said, cutting in on the com. “I’m on my way.”
“No you’re not,” Jeph said.
“I’m the only one that can do it,” she said.
Another loud thump against the upper hull and Cori shook his head. Alyx appeared, pushing her way through the troops that had crowded the deck. She was wearing a PSE and had an air mask slung under her chin. It wasn’t the same as the EVA suits the militia units wore, but it would keep her breathing more than long-enough to get back to safety, if they breached the hull. “She’s already here, boss,” he said.
“We don’t have time to waste,” she said, grabbing the rail beside him and launching up the chute with a shove. Cori leapt to follow her a split second later.
“Just don’t get yourself killed being a hero,” Jeph said.
“Not planning on it,” she said. She disappeared onto the ConDeck as another boom thundered through the hull.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Exeter inside Lunar L-2 Shipyard Defense Net:
It wasn’t hard work to hold off the ghost fleet, it was just complex. The Exeter and Concord were dancing from target to target, hitting enemy ships as they grouped to take out a turret. Their AA coordinated with the L-2 Command and Control network and kept track of the enemy ships as they swarmed in what looked like random patterns.
Every few minutes they predicted points where three or more enemy ships would come together just beyond the outer range of one of their turret’s beams. When that happened, they had a target and moved into position to disperse the group.
Almost every time they got into range, one of the enemy ships took damage, sometimes two. But they always lost a turret in the process. Sometimes the group broke up before they could engage, and they lost a turret without taking any blood for it. Fortunately, it didn’t happen often.
“Captain we’ve got two groups forming up,” the helmsman said.
“Pick the closest one,” he said, glancing at the screen and feeling them lurch as they spun to their new heading and the main engines kicked them to toward their target.
“The second group is breaking off and moving in our direction,” the helmsman said.
“In our direction?”
“Yes sir,” he said. “Under full thrust.”
“What the hell are they doing?” the captain said. “Come around and engage.”
“We’ll lose lock on the first group,” the weapons officer said.
“Try to get them with the port side guns as we pivot,” he ordered.
“Nogo. We’re still out of range. We’ve got no targeting resolution.”
“Then let it go,” he said. “I don’t like that they think they can come for us.”
“Exeter we’ve got an off attack pattern forming,” L-2 DefCon said. “Looks like you’ve got a group targeting you.”
“We see it,” the captain said. “Three ships inbound at 800 klick.”
“Negative Exeter,” she said. “We’re tracking eighteen inbound to starboard, range 1400 klick.”
“Confirmed,” his navigator said. “Closing hard.”
“Evasive maneuvers, let’s get some distance,” the captain ordered.
“The first group is also breaking off and swinging to,” the weapons officer said. “Range 900 kilometers.”
“They’ll be on us before we can vector,” the helmsman said. “We’re moving into their forward arcs.”
“Weapons, target the closest group and open fire,” he said, his calm shredding as the wolf packs closed on them.
“Concord, come about and cover the Exeter, they’ve got about ten seconds before they’re in a firefight,” DefCon said.
“Roger that, we’re about forty seconds.”
Helm give us best coverage and dive for—”
“We’re taking fire,” the engineer yelled. “Hull breaches reported deck twenty and thirty-six. Emergency bulkheads are sealing.”
“Two targets down,” the weapons officer said.
“Exeter get out of there,” the captain of the Concord barked. “You’ve got heat coming fast.”
“Engines to full, let’s get some range,” he said.
“Heading?” the helmsman asked, his voice rising as the ships converged.
“Anywhere. Straight out of here,” the captain said.
It took almost four seconds for the fusion drive to come to full thrust. About half way through that process, the beams from three enemy ships sl
iced the starboard primary thrust plate to shreds. The engine buckled forward as the power came up and twisted the ship into a pinwheel of scattering debris.
FleetCom Military Operations Center: Lunar L-2 Shipyard:
“The Exeter’s dead,” the captain of the Concord reported. They’d all watched it happen on the main screen, so it was only a formality hearing the words.
“We’ve still got twenty ships inbound through the net under full power,” Sage said, somehow not showing a reaction to the news in her voice.
“Turrets are inflicting damage, but they’re going to get through,” the OpsCom officer said.
“Concord, come around to give pursuit. That attack group is going to break the line,” she said.
“We’re on it,” the captain growled, sounding like he was bent on revenge.
“Bring the other multicruisers forward now,” the admiral said. He stood staring at the main screen and watching the ships leap into action. We waited too long.
“Yes sir,” she said, passing the orders.
“We’ve got six minutes until the rest of their fleet gets here,” Ducat said from the OpsCom station. He was shaking his head.
“Fifty-six minutes until the Kitty Hawk battle group arrives,” Visser said. She was shaking her head too. “We won’t last that long.”
“Turrets are thinning them out, but it looks like at least twelve will make it through,” Sage said.
“What about the interceptors?” Roudini asked.
Quintana looked at his first officer. “I wouldn’t,” she said. “Since we’re pushing the big boys forward, they’re our only secondary line. I’d hold them in for close cover.”
“Agreed,” he said.
“They’re throwing the rest of their blockade group into the gap,” Ducat said. “It looks like they’re angling for the Concord and ignoring the turrets.
“Concord you need to punch it, they’re hunting you,” the admiral said.
The screen showed the plume from the Concord lash back as the ship leapt to full thrust. The tactical display showed it angling back toward the station and its heading would intercept the other four multicruisers about half way between the shipyard and the inner ring of the defense net. Good position, he thought.
Shan Takhu Legacy Box Set - With an Extra Bonus Story Page 81