No Place for Usby Thomas Willits |
Table of Contents Part 1 appears in this issue. |
| part 2 of 5 |
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“It would help if we knew where they were stationed,” Major Alanna Dexter said, giving Commander Hawker a disgruntled look. “We have to go on the offensive. We can’t keep taking this kind of damage.”
“Our defenses were slow,” he answered from the head of the table. His second in command, Major Dexter sat to his left. Also in this conference room was Lieutenant Reese, his chief maintenance man and engineer Kestal, Doctor Lacon, and Sergeant Peters. All here at the request of Commander Hawker. “That ship never should have made it inside the moon’s orbit.”
Major Dexter was silent for a moment, considering this. “One of the upper pylon turrets’ tracking system was malfunctioning,” she said giving him an explanation. “Mr. Kestel has made the repairs. This should not happen again.”
“No,” Hawker said agreeing. “I’m sure no one will make that mistake again. Not after we lost so many. But that’s not what’s bothering me. In the last thirty days they’ve managed to somehow inflict damage on this station three times. Each time more deadly than the last. Each time with different tactics. You see, it’s the unexpected I’m worried about. I must anticipate their next move if I’m to protect the station. But yes, Major, I agree with your original statement. It would greatly help if we knew where these radicals were.”
“Have you decided what to do with the Venorans?” she asked, changing the subject. “I’ll bet they had something to do with this last attack. They probably sabotaged our computer system.”
“I’ve processed them,“ Hawker said simply. “Nothing more. They’re in lockup right now until I receive word from Eyos on what to do with them. They were found aboard a freighter docked at section thirty-four. They weren’t anywhere near the blast area.”
“Sounds like you're their defense council.”
“Unless you’ve got any hard evidence, Major, I suggest you keep your prejudice to yourself. I’ll handle the Venorans, unless you’ve been promoted to Captain and I wasn’t notified about it. That goes for anyone else, too. If you’re thinking about taking matters into your own hands you'd better think again. We’ve got bigger problems right now than those two down in lockup, and I need options.”
No one said anything. Commander Hawker glanced at Major Dexter and she shook her head. The problem with the attacks was that they were so brief and precise. They’d never been able to capture an approaching ship or even disable one. These radicals believed that death was a far more suitable choice than their capture.
“This Shartran,” Commander Hawker started. “He’s been able to deceive me at every turn. When is the next convoy in?”
“The next crew rotation from Alem Kor is scheduled for tomorrow,” Major Dexter answered. She pulled up the data from the computer console in front of her. “There’s almost two hundred miners returning for leave. The convoy back to Alem Kor with the second team will depart four hours later, after the ships are refueled. You’re not thinking about delaying the convoy are you? You know how they hate that. They’ve been down there for three weeks straight.”
“No,” Commander Hawker shook his head. “That wouldn’t be my first option. But I’m beginning to think Shartran might select a new target. The convoy. Or while our patrol ships are escorting the convoy in, they might choose to attack the station again. It is our weakest time. Our ships are running thin. We don’t even have enough pilots to operate them all.”
“Any word from Eyos?” Lieutenant Reese asked. “Our last supply ship was canceled.”
“I sent a priority message an hour ago. I should hear something soon. They apparently don’t see Shartran and his men as a threat. Central Command doesn’t believe he’s out here. I must admit, at first I didn’t think much of him. Until these last few raids his men had never been able to inflict any real damage. But he’s persistent.”
“I wish I could understand them,” Sergeant Peters said baffled. They fight a hopeless cause.”
“They might not agree with you, Sergeant,” Major Dexter argued. “They’ve been dying for their cause for two years. And they don’t seem to show any sign of giving up.”
“But what has it gotten them?” he asked. “They’ve made no real progress. They’re spread over five light-years. Constantly hiding, no place to call home. They’re outcasts of Eyos and they’ll be hunted down for the rest of their lives. For what? Because they think that Eyos has betrayed them. Eyos has become a tyrant? Nonsense! We’ve done more for our neighboring worlds than anyone else. I wish I could find Shartran and...”
“He may not even be here,” Hawker said before Peters could finish. “This station is only one of their targets right now. The mining facility on Alem Kor does provide energy resources and is a vital key to the productivity of Eyos, but it is not the only source we have. I’ve often thought Shartran’s interests would be closer to home.”
“But we are the most remote,” Major Dexter added.
Commander Hawker was silent. Yes, of course that was true as well.
“How well do you know Galtor on Alem Kor?” Major Dexter asked inquisitively.
“Galtor, the head of mining operations?” Commander Hawker shook his head. “I don’t see him much. He rarely leaves the planet. He has his own private quarters down there, and he doesn’t visit our station much. Other than our monthly briefing via communication we never speak. The only thing we talk about is how production is doing. Why?”
“We might need to call him up for a favor,” she answered. “I might just have a plan.”
Commander Hawker sat back in his chair and gave her full attention. “I’m listening,” he said and placed his hands behind his head.
The two transport ships caring two hundred civilian miners and along with a dozen patrol ships left Alem Kor on schedule the following day. With a dozen patrol ships escorting the convoy from Alem Kor, the station only had about fifty of their ships left to defend in case of an attack and even less pilots.
“This is Escort One,” Major Dexter said after the convey had left Alem Kor and was in route to Ios. “We are adjusting course for our approach. Prepare to receive.”
“Acknowledged, Escort One,” Commander Hawker said from the main control room. The entire senior staff was on duty as Hawker had ordered. “Any sign of pursuit?”
“Negative.“ She checked the computer scans of the region. “Nothing yet. Maybe we’ll be left alone today. Anything on your end?”
“Space is clear,” he responded. “Looks like I might have overreacted.”
The two transports moved out of the upper atmosphere of Alem Kor following Major Dexter and her squad of ships. The course was plotted for Ios and executed.
The escort ships surrounded the two transports from all sides. Major Dexter’s ship was in the lead position. Three ships were positioned in the rear and the rest were on each side.
“All ships engage on station route,” Major Dexter announced to all the ships. Once all ships were in the flight path to Ios they increased to cruising speed. “Escort fighters switch to battle ready mode. Weapons armed. Watch your screens. Escort Five, you’re too tight! Move to zero-three-”
Major Dexter’s ship shuddered violently as blaster fire ripped past her starboard side wing. She spun the controls around and the ship arched, starting a spin just in time to avoid another volley of blaster fire.
“Station One!” She screamed into the communication system. “We are under attack! I repeat, we are under attack.”
Commander Hawker’s jaw dropped seeing the visual readout from the overhead monitor. A swarm was the only word to describe what was there. Hawker ran to the analysis station already occupied by a crewman.
“Sir!. They just came out of nowhere! I don’t understand how. There must be fifty or sixty of them.”
“The computer shows more than eighty,” he advised calmly. “They must have been hiding on the far side of the planet. Bring up Major Dexter’s visual.”
The crewman sat there frozen gazing at the screen full of ships advancing on the convoy. He was oblivious to Hawker’s orders.
“Crewman!” he shouted. “Bring up Major Dexter’s visual!”
He shook himself free of his fear and brought up the visual. The main viewer flickered and then Major Dexter appeared on the screen.
“Sorry, sir,” the shook up crewman apologized. “Won’t happen again.”
Hawker looked at the crewman but said nothing. There wasn’t time. He stepped back to his command chair and engaged the voice control.
“Major!” he shouted. “Status!”
Major Dexter’s ship was still in lead position. So far it and the rest of the ships were undamaged. They were still far off, just leaving orbit of Alem Kor but advancing fast. She flipped on her rear scanner seeing the pursuing ships.
“There must be a hundred of them,” she said to Hawker. “We don’t have a chance against them. All ships are undamaged. I nearly took a shot in the midsection but I’m okay.”
“Good,” Hawker said. “Alter course to prearranged coordinates. Engage maximum speed.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and gave the order to the rest of the convoy.
Two small pursuing ships flew past on the port and starboard side of the convoy. They fired no shots.
“They’re scout ships,” she announced to the convoy. “Ignore them. They’re trying to break us up. Stay with the convoy!”
No one broke formation and the convoy continued on to the prearranged coordinates along with eighty or ninety ships in pursuit. The two scout ships swung around and headed back for the convoy. As they flew past they targeted an escort ship and fired their blasters at it.
“Number five,” Major Dexter called. “What is your status?”
“I’m okay,” the pilot said checking his computer for a readout of the hull integrity. “Their weapons are weak in those scout ships. But I can’t get a good lock on them. They’re too damn fast!”
“Don’t bother,” she said. “You probably can’t get a clean shot. Divert all your power to your main shield. Set your shield booster to maximum.”
He did as ordered and adjusted the shield power output. The two scout ships swung around and made another forward pass targeting the same escort ship. The ship sustained even more fire power and the shield weakened a bit.
“My shield is giving,” he shouted. “I have to divert power to weapons.”
“No, number five!” Major Dexter ordered. “Don’t divert power from your shields. I’ll have an escort move into your position.”
“No time,” he said frantically. He switched power from shields to weapons. The two scout ships approached from the front making another attack. They closed on the escort ship. “I can target them just as they make their pass. I should get a clean shot. I can do this, Major.”
“No!” she shouted. But before she could move another ship into position the two scout ships were already passing. The number five escort targeted one of the scout ships and fired hitting it dead center and it exploded quickly. The other ship right next to it fired its forward cannons and then was engulfed in the explosion from its partner.
“Number five, pull up!” Major Dexter shouted, but it was too late. The shots had been fired just in time and struck the number five escort vessel. Its main shield gave way and the hull ruptured slowly, ripping apart, not exploding all at once like the two scout ships. It dove, trying to escape its fate, but the pressure from inside broke free and the ship exploded violently. The number five ship was no more, and the debris was minimal. The other ships passed by without adjusting course. Major Dexter was silent looking at the approaching swarm.
“Major,” Hawker said through her communication channel. “Confirm, number five lost.”
She said nothing. She saw the swarm getting closer and closer. One by one they would be picked off. Hopeless. All of this was hopeless.
“Major!” Hawker shouted. “Confirm number-”
“Confirmed,” she answered, shaking away the fear and came back to reality. “Number five escort lost. Two scout ships were destroyed. We’re currently not under attack but the ships are almost within range. We can’t outrun them with these transport ships.”
“Understood,” Hawker said. “Hold your course to prearranged coordinates. I’m dispatching ships to aid you.”
“That will leave the station venerable to attack,” she argued.
“Yes,” he agreed. “But at least we know where they are. They can’t fight two battles at once. We’ll be okay here. Just get to those coordinates. Sergeant Peters, get down to the hangar and help Reese launch those ships. I want all of them out there. I want every available pilot suited up. Get civilians with flight experience if you have to. I want all ships launched.”
“Yes, sir,” he said and rushed out of the control room.
“And Peters,” he added.
“Sir?”
“Get my ship ready as well.”
About twenty-five ships were ready for launch when Commander Hawker was suited up and inside his own ship preparing to launch. Other pilots were scurrying around on the shuttle bay floor as they waited for their ships to be prepped for launch.
“We’ll have to launch in groups,” Hawker said through the communication channel to Reese below. I’ll take the first group; it’s ready now. You take the next group and rendezvous with us. We’ll do what we can until you arrive.”
“Understood,” Lieutenant Reese responded, “but save some for us.”
Hawker laughed, “I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Where are you now?” Major Dexter called to Hawker. All twenty-five ships had been launched immediately and were en route to the convoy. “We’re almost at the coordinates.”
“We’re nearly there, Major,” Commander Hawker answered. “Just hold tight for a couple minutes. Get the convoy into position.”
“They’re taking shots at us! I’ve lost another ship. We can’t wait any longer.”
“Major. Check your port window.”
She turned her head seeing Hawker’s fleet approaching and she sighed.
“It’s about time, Commander,” she said relieved. “Now get these maggots off our tail.”
Hawker’s fleet of twenty-five ships approached the rear, targeted as many ships as possible and opened fire as they rocketed past them. Over twenty ships exploded on the first pass. Hawker's fleet swung around, regrouping with the convoy and leaving the swarm alone for now. They were still greatly outnumbered. The pursuing ships halted their course and waited.
“What are they up to?” Hawker asked to himself. “Keep our ships moving. Get into position.”
The convoy along with Hawker’s fleet continued on their course. The pursuing swarm of ships remained behind, waiting as before.
“Full stop!” Hawker shouted to all ships. “Activate the field, Major.”
The transport ships slowed to a stop as did the remaining escort ships. Major Dexter moved her ship from the front of the convoy around to Hawker’s fleet. She flipped open the controls next to her and activated the field.
“Mine field activated,” she advised. “Now where are the rest of our ships?”
“They’ll be here shortly,” Commander Hawker answered. “I took the first group. We’ll have at least twenty more ships on the way soon.”
The swarm began to move forward again. Dozens of ships grouped together tightly for a perfect display of the minefield’s purpose. They would loose half their ships before they knew what was happening. The ships grew closer and closer nearing the minefield.
“Hold your positions,” Hawker whispered through the communication channel. “Wait for my signal.”
The nearest ships reached the minefield and passed through. Hawker waited for the explosion, raising his arm to shield his eyes from the blast. The ships entered the field and kept advancing, no explosions yet.
“Major?” he asked, confused.
No answer. The forward group of ships were now passing the minefield and still there was no detonation.
“Major?” he asked again. “What’s going on? Why haven’t the mines been triggered?”
“I’m sorry,” Major Dexter said in a strange tone. “They’ve been deactivated.”
“What? How? Reinitialize the link! Quick!”
“I can’t do that. Just hold your position and wait for instructions, Commander. You are outnumbered and there is no escape.”
“Major!” Commander Hawker shouted furiously. “You betrayed me! You set me up this whole time? Why?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
The entire pursuing fleet was now just behind their convoy. Less than forty ships against over seventy. The communication indicator sounded suddenly. It was a ship to ship channel from the swarm, possibly demanding their surrender. He flipped the channel on and saw a familiar face on the viewer.
“General Shartran,” he said recognizing the figure on his screen. “I should have known you’d be involved in this infringement. You won’t get away with this. I’ve got thirty or forty ships on the way now. You may as well surrender.”
“Commander,” the man said injured. “You offend me. I merely wish to be your friend. I don’t want needless killing any more than you do. Surely we can agree on that.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Commander Hawker argued. “What did you hope to gain today? You’ve gained nothing. As usual.”
“Now that’s not true, Commander,” Shartran said defiantly. “Even your late captain would agree to that. We have gained something today. Each of us has. You’ve learned that your Major Dexter is actually a member of our forces, and I’ve gained something I’ve sought for a long time: your transport ships. I know they’re not carrying the miners; Major Dexter informed me of that. But they will be quite useful to me. I’ll be able to transport hundreds of my forces across this system.”
To be continued...
Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Willits
