Operation Hellfire (5 page)

"How are my engines holding up?"

Her engineering officer looked back at her at the same time as a priority message appeared on the vertical display unit. It was from the medical bay. The single large vertical display carried separate rectangular sections for each of the senior officers. By removing so many of the smaller units, it was possible to reduce the space needed for command and control. One section on the display turned into a black rectangle, and nearby data shifted sideways to make space. It then changed to show a woman in medical overalls. Captain Galanos sighed at seeing the Doctor. It was a report she had requested an hour ago, and she dreaded hearing the news.

"Doctor. What is the status of my injured?"

The Doctor looked down and pressed some buttons off camera before replying. Captain Galanos' mind raced as she imagined the injuries to her crew. Relentless had been pounded in the short battle. This wasn't the first engagement in the recent crisis, but she was acutely aware that a number of the enemy projectiles had punched deep inside the ship's hull.

"Seven injuries, none major. One gunner lost a finger during the first volleys. Other than that we made it through relatively unscathed."

Captain Galanos let out a single long sigh.

"I expected a lot worse."

The Doctor smiled.

"The compartment evacuation drills saved a lot of lives. Multiple decks were breached early on, but deck managers pulled back crew into sealed areas and then blocked them off. It meant reduced engineering teams throughout the ship, but with the benefit of saving a lot of lives."

Captain Galanos looked happy at the news.

"That's very good. Relentless is a tough old girl, and she can take a beating. But my crew, they die as easily as anybody else."

She blinked slowly as the memories of the violence they had endured over the last weeks returned to her, following their escape from the Byotai revolutionaries. Since then, she had seen pilots killed as well as crew. Even worse, some of the Byotai armoured infantry had made it aboard her ship. The thought of more casualties on Relentless left her feeling sick to her stomach.

"And my pilots?"

The Doctor nodded, but this time answered without having to check.

"Neither is seriously injured, though Ensigns Lewis and Hurley took quite a beating getting back here. They are bruised, and Ensign Hurley undertook a major concussion during her ejection."

Captain Galanos lifted her left hand to her chin as she listened. Knighthawk Squadron consisted of young pilots, but they were all over the legal age of sixteen for service in the Navy. Even so, it made her uncomfortable using such young people in conflict. The Doctor transferred a file across to the screen that showed a list of figures accompanied by a graph.

"All the young pilots in this new squadron are showing the first signs of combat stress. My recommendation is for the new cadets to be placed in reserve. They lack both the..."

Captain Galanos lifted her hand.

"Yes, Doctor, I understand. They will remain active until this fleet, and my ship are out of harm's way."

"Of course, but..."

Captain Galanos shook her head.

"I have your report, thank you."

Captain Galanos cut the feed to the Doctor and looked back at the vertical display. Relentless was no longer running undermanned and underequipped. Even after combat losses, she still carried the best part of three squadrons of fighter craft, upwards of thirty spacecraft. There were even two full platoons of marines on board, more than Relentless had seen for decades. Sound from the door off to the side of the room caught her attention. There was a short exchange of salutes and even fewer words before Captain Cornwallis and Lieutenant Heiskell entered the CIC.

This can't be good.

"Captain...Lieutenant."

Both walked onto the deck while the officers in the CIC stood smartly to attention as they approached her position and saluted. It wasn't the arrival that drew so much interest. It was the way they moved directly at her. The very second they were waved through by the marines she knew something was up.

"Captain, we've got a new problem," said Lieutenant Heiskell.

Captain Galanos rubbed her right eyebrow with her hand.

"Yes, I can see that. Go on."

The Captain spoke more quietly than she would have expected, and it immediately made her uncomfortable.

"One of my marines overheard the Byotai prince talking as he was returning to the armoury to hand in his gear. His translators were active and picked up part of the conversation."

Captain Galanos remained seated.

"And?"

Captain Cornwallis sniffed as he moved closer to her.

"Sir. This Prince Kratha, it seems he's managed to make contact with other Byotai."

Captain Galanos sighed.

"That's it? It's hardly surprising, is it? His empire is broken, and many of his people are fleeing across the border."

Captain Cornwallis shook his head.

"That's not it, Sir. It's much more serious than him breaking fleet radio silence. My marine overheard one of them passing on the waypoints for the fleet, including our apparent arrival at a place called the Eighth Quadrant Fleet Reserve Base."

His eyebrows rose as he mentioned the location, especially when Captain Galanos' expression gave away the fact that she was surprised. Captain Cornwallis sighed.

"Just as I suspected. This information is senior officers only, isn't it?"

That made the Captain rise to her feet.

"What? How the hell did he know this?"

Her head angled to the right, and her tone increased a fraction in level. She then signalled to one of the marines guarding the door.

"Bring me the Prince and his retinue immediately."

"Sir!"

Her eyes returned to her two senior officers, both appeared equally confused. The number of people aboard the ship with knowledge of the next two waypoints was limited to her command staff. Not even Captain Cornwallis had information on their route. He didn't need to know, and neither did anybody else not directly connected with their navigation.

"Who has access to our course information, and our Byotai guests?"

Before they could answer she already knew, and her face twitched in irritation.

"Captain Dreuc."

* * *

Prince Kratha marched into the CIC with General Honorious at his side. They moved slowly so that the still wounded General could walk unaided, even though he grunted with each step. They headed for Captain Galanos who was flanked by her most senior officers, as well as a dejected looking Captain Dreuc. They waited patiently as the young noble moved closer and then nodded politely. He spoke in thickly accented English, to the surprise of some of the crew.

"Captain. Thank you for seeing me at such short..."

Captain Galanos cut him off midsentence.

"This is my ship, and a ship's captain is God. We are operating under strict radio silence until we are in friendly territory. There are no exceptions."

She looked to Captain Dreuc but directed her question to the Prince.

"So please explain why you have been communicating with third parties and risking the survival of me, my crew, ship, and this entire fleet!"

The Prince glanced at the old General who gave him little more than an eye movement in response. It wasn't much, but it was clearly a signal.

"I see," said the Prince, "We are in friendly territory, my territory."

Captain Dreuc spoke out in his own language, and the tone was clearly a rebuke. Prince Kratha muttered something back at the old officer before lowering his head towards Captain Galanos.

"You are, of course, correct. I ordered my technicians to send a coded message to nearby regional commands. The messages are short and can be read only by those with a matching genetic ID."

Captain Galanos shook her head.

"And I take it you have not heard back from them?"

The Prince nodded.

"Correct."

"Anything else? For the security of my fleet, I have to know. Have you sent any other messages?"

General Honorius leant towards the Prince and spoke quietly. Prince Kratha snapped something back, grunted, and then returned his gaze to the Captain.

"My technicians detected a distress signal from my Eighth Quadrant regional fleet. I have called on all loyalists in this sector to escape to Alliance space. The transit point for many is at..."

General Honorius spoke again, and this time Prince Kratha lifted his hands and muttered something that surprised all of the Byotai present.

"The Eighth Quadrant Fleet Reserve Base."

Captain Galanos shook her head.

"We have two more waypoints on our way back home before we reach Helios Prime and the safety of Alliance territory. The first of these takes us past the abandoned Fleet Reserve Base."

She then looked to Captain Dreuc.

"Captain, you told us this was to make use of the nearby Spacebridge that will take us to the Ararrh border system, and then to the great crossroads, the area our stellar cartographers call the Four Rifts. From that one point, it will give us the ability to travel to three different star systems."

"Indeed," said the General, now finally speaking, "And one of those is the old Helion capitol, Helios Prime, now part of your Grand Alliance. Your final destination, as agreed with your Admiral."

She wasn't certain, but it did sound as though he used the term ‘Grand’ disparagingly. More concerning was that it sounded as though these Byotai had their own plan and were using Alliance ships to do it.

"That is correct. The last part of our journey back to the Alliance will take us through the Four Rifts. You promised us this was the safest route, and the one least likely to make us run into Star Empire forces."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked carefully at the Byotai.

"Was this your plan all along? To string our fleet along to fit a different agenda, one you have been following since we picked you up?"

Captain Dreuc opened his mouth and let out a slow breath. His eyes closed shut for nearly two seconds, and left Captain Galanos getting even angrier. His reptilian facial muscles drew taut along his cheekbones until finally, he opened his eyes.

"No, Captain. I suggested this route because it takes us directly past known loyalist star systems. The Ararrh border system is lightly populated, but it is home to an operational Imperial facility. We are less likely to run into trouble because most, if not all have fled. If any remain, they will be loyal to the Royal Household and at that station."

Prince Kratha took a half step closer to Captain Galanos, and to her surprise he lowered down on one knee. Several of the Byotai uttered hushed tones as they watched him in front of a human officer.

"Please accept my apologies. My outgoing messages were vague and lacked any military intelligence, I assure you." Captain Galanos did not look impressed, so he continued, "I will of course have my officers give you copies."

He looked to General Honorius and made a low-pitched grunting sound. The senior officer nodded politely and then moved to the rear of the group where he could talk with those outside, leaving the Prince alone. The noble looked to the vertical display where mapping information showed the nearby stars systems bordering the Eighth Quadrant, known as the Deadlands.

"My message simply said that I am alive, and that all loyalists are to mobilise at their nearest military stations to continue the fight. If we're lucky, it might reach the odd stray ship, but only a signal via the Imperial Cortex can reach every part of the Empire. It was an impulsive gamble, and we expect little, perhaps nothing from it."

Captain Galanos looked impassively at him.

"Your Empire is in ruins, and you have told those still loyal to stand their ground? You have consigned them to their deaths."

The Prince blinked, but he had nothing else he wanted to say. Captain Galanos still looked unimpressed.

"This Fleet Reserve Base at Ararrh II, tell me about it. Do you expect to find friends or enemies there?"

Prince Kratha shrugged, doing his best to imitate what he had seen from the humans. It was a good impression, though perhaps a little too understated.

"Only a command ship of the Imperial Navy can access and control the Cortex at the base. Through it, information will then spread to any ships still connected to the system in this Ararrh region and beyond."

"Yes, I understand that," said Galanos, "But tell me of this region. Is it hostile? Are we heading into a trap?"

Prince Kratha paused.

"I do not have the..."

Captain Galanos did not look particularly pleased. She pointed to the vertical display and then tapped it. An image of Admiral Churchill appeared, and he looked equally annoyed.

"Prince Kratha, I've just heard what is going on. This is not what we agreed, is it?"

Like Captain Galanos, he did not look impressed.