Beyond the Shroud of the Universe (29 page)

“Madness,” Captain Nakamura muttered. “This is nothing short of madness.”

“What is madness, sir?” the
Thermopylae’s
XO, Captain Peotr Baranovsky, asked.

“It is lunacy to take our fleet into that…that mess out there. We are unprepared. Our crew is not fully trained, we have untested weapons and our tactics to use them are still, as yet, unproven. We are going against ships that can jump in and out of our universe, and none of our ships can follow them when they go. They haven’t figured out how to install jump modules on a super dreadnought, and the battleships were supposed to get theirs when we returned.” He shook his head and repeated, “It is madness.”

“Well, we do have the ship’s AI to help the crew,” the XO said. “Also, at least we are aware of the capabilities of the Jotunn’s ally and have thought about how to defeat them. They aren’t going to catch us unaware like they did the Aesir ships and the
Vella Gulf
.”

“Speaking of the
Vella Gulf
,” the CO replied, “aren’t they supposed to be around here somewhere? I wonder where they went?”

“Stargate emergence!” Steropes called.

“Jotunn or ally ship?” Captain Sheppard asked.

“Neither. The ship entered from the other stargate and is broadcasting Terran codes…It’s the…it’s the
Thermopylae,
sir! Fleet command must have sent it to help the Aesir. More ships incoming. The battleship
Hood
is also here, as is the
Yamato.
”

When Steropes didn’t say any more for several long seconds, the CO finally asked, “What about screening ships? Battlecruisers? Cruisers? How many destroyers?”

“None, sir,” Steropes replied. “Those three ships are the only ones that came through the stargate.”

“Really?” Captain Sheppard asked. He shook his head. “I hope they know what they’re doing.” He turned to the communications officer. “Comms, put out a line so we can contact them and get me the
Thermopylae.
”

Within seconds, the image of a Terran admiral filled the screen. “Ah, there you are,
Vella Gulf,
” the admiral said. “I am Admiral Lambert. You are to be integrated with my strike group. Come and attach yourself to the group as we go to the immediate aid of our illustrious allies.”

“Yes sir,” Captain Sheppard replied. “We are working to recover our platoon of space marines from one of the enemy ships. Once we get them back, we will join you enroute.”

“
No!
” Admiral Lambert screamed, his face purpling. “I said for you to join us now! You will cease the recovery efforts and position yourself within the strike group where my operations officer tells you.
Am I clear on this?
”

“Yes sir,” Captain Sheppard replied. “Very clear.
Vella Gulf
, out.”

“Well that’s fucked up,” the helmsman said.

“No shit,” the duty engineer agreed. He looked back to the CO. “He can’t be serious, can he? Just abandon our guys and go join the strike group? Just like that?”

“Did you hear any room for delay in the admiral’s orders?” Captain Sheppard asked. Without waiting for an answer he added, “Neither did I. Let’s get that shuttle launched ASAP! Helm, proceed to a rendezvous with the
Thermopylae
strike group. Best speed.”

“
Lieutenant Commander Hobbs,
Vella Gulf.
Be advised, there has been a change of plans. The
Vella Gulf
has been ordered to join the
Thermopylae
strike group, which just arrived in-system. Recovery will have to wait until after our battle with the Jotunn.
”

“
What? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You’re just going to leave us here on an alien ship?
”

“
The CO sends his apologies. He tried to argue with the admiral, but the admiral wouldn’t listen to him. Frankly, you’re probably better off there. I just saw the plot and the Jotunn have a ship that’s freaking
huge
, in addition to a bunch of smaller ones. Plus all the ones that keep jumping back and forth between universes that are hard to even
count
. Good luck, guys.
Vella Gulf,
out.
”

“
Those mother fu—,
” started Lieutenant O’Leary, but he was cut off by another incoming transmission.

“
Just heard you started the fun without us,
” Night commed. “
You guys are
on
one of the ally’s ships? Was it time to add another unit to Lieutenant Commander Hobbs’ personal collection of captured ships?
”

“
Yeah, we’re on it,
” Calvin replied. “
That wasn’t our intention; it just sort of happened.
”

“
You ‘sort of’ invaded an enemy ship? This I have to hear.
”

“
Yeah, well, we’re sort of busy right now and the
Thermopylae
just screwed us. They cancelled our recovery shuttle and made the
Gulf
go join the strike group.
”

“
You’re right, that’s screwed up. I’m on the
Thermopylae;
let me see what I can do,
” Night said.

“
Thanks,
” Calvin replied. “
Let me know how it turns out.
”

“
I will. Stay safe. Night out.
”

“Admiral, the Aesir have begun transmitting us their tactical picture,” the sensor operator said. “Whoa! The Jotunn have the biggest ship I have ever seen. It is over five miles long!”

“Steady,” the admiral said. “At three miles long and 10 million tons, we bring a lot to the fight, too. With the
Hood
and the
Yamato
at our side, and the Aesir battle station assisting, I feel confident we can take them.”

The admiral switched to the strike group net. “
All ships, this is the admiral. Our first target will be the Jotunn dreadnought. If we can get them out of the fight, it will be easy to defeat the rest of the fleet in detail. Although we intend to engage the dreadnought, weapons are free enroute. Maintain formation on us, but if you get a shot at any of the enemy on the way in, take it! Admiral Lambert out.
”

“Awesome,” the CO said with a truckload of sarcasm in his voice. “Not only are we going to charge into that hornet’s nest, we are going to start out with their largest vessel.” He switched to the ship-wide network. “
All hands, this is the Captain. We are headed for a Jotunn dreadnought to help relieve the pressure on the Aesir battle station. I know some of our weapons systems are new, and we haven’t had much of a chance for practice, but remember, we are Terran sailors, and we have never lost a battle. Stay alert, as the Jotunn’s ally may show up anywhere, at any time. They weren’t expecting us; let’s show them what Terra’s got!
”

“OSO, I want all systems ready to fire,
now!
Don’t let those bastards pop up on us without us putting some steel back on them. Duty engineer, set General Quarters.”

“We’re kind of a long ways out,” Captain Baranovsky noted. “Do you want to set General Quarters so soon? The men may get tired if they have to stand ready the entire time.”

“Unless you can tell me where all of the enemy is hiding, and I do mean
all
of the enemy, I want us to be as ready as we can be. That means offensive and defensive systems manned and ready, and the ship buttoned up. I may disagree with the admiral that this is the best course of action, but we will fight the ship the best we are able.”

“
Hey, Lieutenant, they must have gone to General Quarters or something,
” Sergeant Marcus ‘Spud’ Murphy said. “
We’re at a dead end and all of the doors seem locked; at least, they aren’t opening. None of them have handles, either, so I’m not sure how to get them open. What do you want us to do?
”

“
I want you to show a teeny tiny bit of fucking initiative,
” Lieutenant O’Leary said. “
Get one of the cyborgs up there and cut a way through. Also, let’s try to cut our way through some of the other doors here. I don’t want to leave a bunch of them behind us so they can hit us from the rear when we least expect it.
”

“
I’m on the door at the end of the passageway,
” Sergeant Jacob ‘Chaos’ Braig commed.

“
I’ll start working my way down the corridor and see if anyone’s home,
” Gunnery Sergeant Dantone said. “
Fire Team One with me for fire support.
”

There was a flash and a moment of disorientation.

“
Dammit,
” Lieutenant O’Leary said, “
I wish they’d make up their minds on what universe they want to be in.
”

“
Hey, sir, the passageway ends up here in a wall,
” Sergeant Richard ‘Shipwreck’ Shipley said. “
I passed a few things that looked like doors on the way, but none of them have handles or any other way of gaining entrance.
”

“
Yeah, I saw one,
” Calvin said. “
Looks like they must have some sort of key card or something that grants access to the spaces they’re allowed to go. Apparently, they haven’t given us access to any of them, so I guess we’ll have to cut our way through. Let’s all move to the end of the passageway and then we’ll have the cyborgs cut through the doors as we come to them. At least that way, they won’t pop up behind us.
”

A call came in on the comm network. “
Lieutenant Commander Hobbs,
Shuttle 02.
We are enroute your position for recovery. Help’s on the way, no matter which universe they take you to.
”

“
Awesome. We’re looking forward to your arrival. We are on the interior of the ship, so let us know when you’re five minutes out.
”

“
Wilco.
02
out.
”

Everything flashed as the ship jumped universes.

“Dammit,” Calvin muttered. He switched to the platoon-wide network. “
You guys found anything yet, Lieutenant O’Leary? All we’ve got is a dead-end passageway with locked doors. We’re about to start cutting into them.
”

“
No sir. We’ve got the same thing over on this side. I would have expected stairs or a ladder or something, but so far, nothing. We’re about to start cutting, too.
”

“
Look for a way to go forward and down,
” Calvin replied. “
The spaces we’re looking for will probably be the ones that are hardest to get to.
”

“
Roger, sir; we’re looking.
”

North Quadrant Control, Aesir Battle Station
Heimdall
,
HD 69830 System, November 9, 2021

“Tyr, the East Quadrant just took a hit in their control space,” the damage control officer said. “Repair teams are responding, but it sounds like the quadrant is going to be down until we get it into a space dock. Remaining defenses, what few there are, have gone to local control.”

“Understood,” the Tyr replied.

“What is—,” the Thor stopped to cough. The smoke was becoming thick enough that it was starting to work its way into their suits’ recyclers…even though that was supposed to be impossible. “Our status?”

“The East and the South Quadrants are both out. If any of the missile or laser batteries are still functional, they are being controlled by their local operators. The other quadrants are heavily damaged and shields are down throughout the entire station. The only quadrant with minimal damage is the Lower Quadrant.” The Tyr paused to cough. “Unfortunately, the motor control relay used to spin the ship took a hit, so we are dead in space. If we can fix that, we can spin the station and take the Jotunn under fire again. Until then, the rest of our systems are down to about 25%, and the Jotunn are trying to stay in our blind spots. I wish I could get you out of here, my Thor, but the Jotunn have destroyed every evacuation pod that has launched so far.”

“The bastards.”

“Yes, my Thor. My sentiments, exactly.”

“Tyr! I have motor control restored!”

“Good. Spin the ship to orient the Lower Quadrant on the Jotunn command vessel. Tell the Lower Quadrant control officer to fire everything she has at the
Naglfar
.”

“Aye aye!”

The Tyr smiled. “We’ll see how they like this.”