Frontiers Saga 12: Rise of the Alliance (32 page)

“Assuming that their comm-drones have a top speed of twenty-C,
and
assuming that they launched a comm-drone toward
every
core system the day we arrived from the Pentaurus cluster, a safe estimate would be two hundred and twenty days.”

“That is a
lot
of assumptions,” Lieutenant Eckert said, one eyebrow raised.

“Yes, it is,” Jessica admitted, “but they are all conservative assumptions.”

“Ones that I would be inclined to agree with,” Nathan added. “So, we have forty-two days until the Karuzara arrives, after which we will have two hundred and eight days to overhaul and upgrade our ships. And that’s
if
we destroy the Centauri platform
before
it gets here. To be honest, I’d feel a lot better if we went out and destroyed all those ships as soon as possible. Preferably before they even heard about us.”

“If Lieutenant Commander Nash’s assumptions are indeed correct, then the nearest Jung assets will hear of us in twelve days,” Lieutenant Telles said. “Even if you are successful in destroying the Centauri platform tomorrow, it is highly doubtful that you can destroy the ships in the Cygni and Ceti systems in such a short time.”

“We don’t even know for sure when, or even
if
a comm-drone was launched, or to which system,” Cameron pointed out.

“Why don’t we just send someone one hundred and ninety-six light days out and check?” Lieutenant Delaveaga suggested.

Both Cameron and Nathan looked at the lieutenant.

“I knew there was a reason we promoted you,” Nathan said.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Jump seven, complete,” Mister Riley announced as the Aurora’s jump flash faded away and the lighting on her bridge returned to its normal red-tinged state.

“Position verified,” Mister Navashee reported from the sensor station.

“Firing triplets on all tubes and cannons,” Lieutenant Eckert began, “in three……two……one……firing.”

The Aurora’s bridge became awash in brilliant red-orange flashes as the plasma charges left her weapons and streaked away into the black of space.

“All weapons away,” the lieutenant added.

“Jump eight,” Mister Riley announced right on cue, “in three……two……one……jumping.”

Again the bridge was flooded with blue-white light as the Aurora was enveloped in her jump fields. Nathan could imagine the ship streaking past the very plasma charges that they had just sent hurtling toward the distant battle platform, the ship slipping just under the glowing red-orange balls, leaving them behind as if they were standing still.

“Jump eight, complete,” Mister Riley reported as the jump flash subsided.

“Position verified,” Mister Navashee reported. “Antimatter detonation in twenty seconds.”

“Firing all forward weapons in three…”

“Jump nine, plotted and ready,” Mister Riley reported.

“…Two…”

“Stand by for course change, Mister Chiles,” Nathan reminded.

“…One…”

“Aye, sir.”

“Firing,” Lieutenant Eckert announced. A moment later, the bridge was again flooded with red-orange light that faded quickly as their weapons charges departed. “Weapons away.”

“Three degrees, down relative,” Nathan ordered.

“Three degrees, down relative, aye,” the helmsman answered.

“Ten seconds to detonation,” Mister Navashee reported.

“Mister Riley, jump us as soon as our course change is complete. Tactical, prepare to fire as soon as Mister Chiles brings our nose back onto the target.”

“Five seconds to detonation,” Ensign Kono reported from the Celestia’s sensor station.

“Two degrees, up relative, complete,” Ensign Hunt reported from the helm.

“Snap jump, Mister Jakoby,” Cameron ordered.

“Snap jump, aye,” the navigator answered as the Celestia’s blue-white jump flash washed over them. “Jump complete.”

“Position verified,” Ensign Kono reported. “Detonation confirmed!”

“Pitch us down,” Cameron ordered. “Put our nose on the target. Mister Delaveaga, fire as soon as you have a lock on the target.”

“New contact!” Ensign Kono reported. “A Jung battle platform, just knocked out of FTL!”

“Nice to know that trick still works,” Cameron mumbled to herself.

“Fire at will,” Nathan ordered.

“Jump ten, plotted and ready,” Mister Riley reported.

“Firing triplets on all forward weapons.”

“First eight rounds will impact in three seconds,” Mister Navashee announced.

“Weapons away,” Lieutenant Eckert reported from the tactical station.

“Stand by to jump,” Nathan said.

“Weapons impact!” Mister Navashee reported. “Target’s shields are down! Forward arm!”

“You mean they already fixed the shields we brought down last time?” Nathan wondered.

“Jump ten in three…”

“No, sir. They’ve rotated so that their number two arm is now forward…”

“…Two…”

“…Their damaged arm is now facing port and aft,” Mister Navashee explained.

“…One…”

“They’re taking damage!”

“…Jumping.”

“Transmitting launch signal in three…”

Josh looked out the port side of their canopy at the KKV flying alongside them no more than one hundred meters away.

“…Two…”

“Standing by for course correction,” Josh announced.

“…One……transmitting.”

Loki also looked out the window as the modified Takaran comm-drone began to accelerate away from them at an astonishing rate. “Damn, that thing is fast.”

The comm-drone quickly disappeared from sight.

“Comm-drone has gone to FTL,” Loki reported. “It should reach the target in twenty seconds.”

“Changing course toward the observation point,” Josh announced as he moved his flight control stick.

“Jumping in three seconds,” Loki announced.

“I can’t wait to see this,” Josh mumbled.

“…Two…me too…” Loki agreed, “…jumping.”

“Turn complete,” Mister Chiles reported from the Aurora’s helm.

“Jumping in five seconds,” Mister Riley reported.

“Contact!” Mister Navashee announced.

“Four…”

“Jump flash. Falcon One.”

“…Three…”

“…Incoming message from Falcon One…” Naralena reported.

“…Two…”

“…KKV launched on schedule.”

“…One…”

“Very well,” Nathan stated.

“…Jumping.”

“Estimate KKV impact in seven seconds,” Mister Navashee reported as the Aurora’s jump flash faded.

“Jump complete.”

“Position verified. Five seconds to… What the…” Mister Navashee stopped mid-sentence. “Contact! Dead ahead! Three kilometers and closing fast! It’s the platform! They’re firing! Missiles and guns!”

“Helm! Evasive!” Nathan ordered as the Aurora started a hard turn to port. “ECM! Jam those missiles! Tactical! Target those missiles with our laser turrets!”

“Target is firing on the Aurora!” Ensign Kono reported from the Celestia’s sensor station.

“What the hell?”

“She must have performed a micro-FTL jump,” Ensign Kono declared.

“They jumped in close, just like we would,” Luis commented from the tactical station.

“Aurora is hit!” Ensign Kono added. “Three missiles in her starboard side! She’s venting atmosphere! Heavy debris!”

“Is she still maneuvering?” Cameron demanded.

“Yes, sir! Power, propulsion, and maneuvering are still up!”

“Where’s our KKV?”

“It’s already passed the target point,” Ensign Kono reported. She turned her head to look at her captain. “We missed, sir.”

“Helm, hard to port. Parallel the target’s course and speed,” Cameron ordered.

“Hard to port, aye,” Ensign Hunt answered.

“Mister Jakoby, prepare to jump us alongside her forward arm. I want to be five hundred meters forward of the target and five hundred to port.”

“Five hundred forward and to port, aye,” Mister Jakoby answered. “Plotting jump now.”

“Stand by on all plasma weapons,” Cameron continued. “Triplets all around.”

“Yes, sir,” Luis answered.

“As soon as we jump, swing our nose to starboard and bring all tubes onto the target.”

“Jump ready, Captain,” Mister Jakoby reported.

“Starting yaw maneuver,” Ensign Hunt added.

“Snap jump!”

“Snap jump, aye,” Mister Jakoby acknowledged as blue-white light washed over them. “Jump complete.”

“Firing solution in five seconds,” Luis reported. “Ready on all plasma weapons.”

“Fire as soon as our tubes are on them,” Cameron ordered.

“Target is firing!” Ensign Kono reported.

“At us or the Aurora?” Cameron demanded.

“At us! The Aurora has jumped away! Incoming rail guns!”

The bridge of the Celestia shook violently as the battle platform’s massive rail gun rounds slammed into her hull.

“Energy spike in the target’s reactors!” Ensign Kono reported. “They’re going to FTL!”

“Firing all weapons!” Luis reported.

Red-orange balls of plasma energy leapt from the Celestia’s four forward torpedo tubes, as well as from her two port-side plasma cannons. The six charges streaked across the five hundred meters between the Celestia and the battle platform, but they were too late. The battle platform disappeared in a strange, bending of reality, leaving only empty space for the Celestia’s weapons to pass through.

“Target is gone, sir,” Ensign Kono reported.

Cameron wanted to swear, to pound the arm of her command chair, but she did not. Instead, she gathered herself and turned toward her sensor operator to her left. “Find the Aurora. If she made an emergency escape jump, she won’t be more than ten or twenty light seconds away.”

“Aye, sir,” Ensign Kono acknowledged.

“How the hell did they know?” Luis wondered.

“They didn’t,” Cameron surmised. “We thought we were laying a trap for them, when all the while, they were laying one for us.”

“Captain,” Ensign Souza called from the comm station at the back of the bridge. “Falcon One is reporting they have a track on the KKV.”

“Tell them to intercept, transmit the abort codes, and follow the recovery protocols,” Cameron instructed.

“I have the Aurora,” Ensign Kono reported. “Fifteen light seconds, bearing one two seven, down twenty relative.” Ensign Kono turned toward Cameron again. “She’s in bad shape, sir.”

“Helm, get us alongside the Aurora, ASAP.”

“Aye, sir,” Ensign Hunt acknowledged. “Coming to heading one two seven, down twenty relative.”

“Plotting jump,” Mister Jakoby added.

“Damage control, Captain,” Cameron called over her comm-set.

“
Damage control, go ahead, Captain,
” Master Chief Montrose answered over the comms.

“Master Chief, assemble all damage control teams in the main hangar bay.”

“
We don’t have any damage in the main hangar bay, Captain,
” Master Chief Montrose said. “W
e don’t have any damage anywhere.
”

“It’s not for us, Master Chief,” Cameron said. “It’s for the Aurora.”

“
Aye, sir,
” Master Chief Montrose answered solemnly.

“On course,” Ensign Hunt reported.

“Jumping in three……two……one……jumping.”

Cameron watched the main view screen as the jump flash washed over them. A small, oblong gray object appeared before them. “Magnify,” she ordered.

The image on the screen suddenly became much larger, nearly filling the screen. The entire starboard side of the Aurora was full of holes big and small. Half her starboard fighter alley was open to space, and both fighter launch tubes had been blown open, leaving her plasma cannons twisted hunks of metal.

“Jesus,” Luis gasped. “I’m surprised she could jump at all.”

“The infamous ‘Scott luck’,” Cameron mumbled.

“Incoming call from the Aurora, Captain,” Ensign Souza reported.

“Tell them we’re sending our damage control parties over,” Cameron instructed.

“Yes, sir,” Ensign Souza answered. “They’re also asking we send all medical personnel as well.”

Cameron sighed, a sinking feeling hitting the pit of her stomach. “Very well. Notify medical.”

* * *

Captain Roselle stepped through
the port boarding hatch into the foyer. Down the lateral corridor, he could see personnel moving about briskly. Several men in fire-fighting gear, discolored from contact with burning gases, went by as well.

The captain charged down the corridor, determined to discover what had happened. He reached the end of the corridor and paused to look both directions. In the distance to his left, he spotted Captain Poc and Captain Nash walking away from him on their way forward. “Poc!” he hollered as he broke into a jog toward them. “What happened?” he called as he neared the two captains. “What’s going on?”

“Aurora took damage during their attack on the battle platform,” Captain Poc answered.

“How bad?”

“Pretty bad,” Captain Poc replied.

“Their entire starboard side is shot to hell,” Captain Nash explained as the three of them turned the corner and headed up the ramp to the next deck. “Their starboard fighter alley is open to space, and their starboard plasma cannons are a mess.”

“How do you know?”

“Wellsy scanned them as they approached,” Captain Nash answered.

“Did they destroy the platform this time?”

“God, I hope so,” Captain Poc said as they came to the top of the ramp and stepped onto B deck.

The wide central corridor that led from the main entrance to the hangar deck forward was busy as damage control teams and technicians scurried about. The three captains looked through the massive double doors that led into the main hangar bay as damage control teams that had just disembarked from the Celestia’s second wave of shuttles made their way across the hangar deck toward the transfer airlocks on the starboard side. They could hear chiefs and deck bosses yelling orders to the arriving rescue workers. It was chaos, but the controlled chaos that one expected from a well-trained crew during an emergency aboard a warship.