Space 1999 #5 - Lunar Attack (13 page)

She watched them pick themselves up and move to a direct vision port. Shaking her head she stood up and joined them.

Smoke and dust was slowly clearing away. An immense crater had been blasted out of the moon rock, a few hundred metres away from the gunship.

Coolly appraising the accuracy of her home team’s gunnery, Dione still had spare circuits to assess Koenig’s problem, ‘How many are you on Alpha, Commander?’

‘Around three hundred.’

‘Can your small Eagle vehicles hold them all?’

‘At a squeeze. What’s on your mind?’

‘What is happening to your base was never part of our intention.’

‘So you said.’

‘I understand your feelings. It is also natural that you should blame me, I would like to help you.’

‘How can you do that in this situation?’

It was a key question on a number of levels. Dione paused. There was silence in Main Mission and her clear voice cut through it for all hands to hear.

‘But your people aboard the Eagles and stand off at a safe distance. If Alpha is hit, they are ready to evacuate to my planet. I will guarantee welcome for all of you.’

Before Koenig could answer, there was more action from the gunship. Cracking reports and a deep, thunderous, ground-shaking roar shattered the short calm in a breath-stopping clamour.

Again Koenig grabbed Dione and drew her down to the solid bulkhead below the level of the windows, where dazzling light flashed in flicker rhythm.

Helena and Bergman had gone down side by side, arms shielding their heads. As the salvo ceased and the thunder rolled away, Koenig heaved Dione to her feet again and was still holding her, as she said, ‘Do you agree?’

Face drained of colour by shock, Koenig said slowly, ‘It is not a matter of agree or disagree: it is a matter of life or death. I must accept.’

He released her gently and crossed the room to his command desk having to struggle to walk in a straight line.

Sitting heavily on his chair, he punched keys on the command console to bring in all sections of Moonbase Alpha for an all-stations call. His voice was tired, but firm and determined.

‘Attention all Alpha personnel. Attention all Alpha personnel. Hear this. This is John Koenig. Prepare to evacuate Alpha. I say again, prepare to evacuate Alpha. All personnel to board Eagles. All Eagles to pressurise and remain in underground hangars. Hangar doors are to remain open. Should Mission Control be destroyed, Eagle pilots are to take individual command and set a course for orbital reference Astran nine-five-three. I repeat, Astran nine-five-three. This will take you to Planet Betha, where we have been assured of a friendly welcome. This is a fall back measure only at this stage, to be put into effect in the event of a direct hit and the destruction of Alpha.’

As he ceased, Paul Morrow, back at his desk in Main Mission went to work. Klaxons sounded out, alert signals flashed from every communications post.

Monitors showed the reaction. There was no panic. Orderly lines of hurrying Alphans filled the corridors. Travel tubes ferried loads to the bunkers where the waiting Eagles were manhandled to face the double leaf hangar doors. Drill was paying off. The machinery still worked.

Main Mission staff were still at their consoles and Sandra had some news that could make any and every preparation a meaningless exercise. She called urgently, ‘Commander. Missile launched from Planet Betha.’

Morrow left his desk and she looked at him. It was impossible to believe that their luck could hold. She said, ‘Paul?’

He put an arm round her in silence. Main Mission was silent. The Command Office was still as a tomb. Koenig stared out of a window at the gunship. Helena watched him. Bergman was musing to himself in a deep reverie. Dione watched them all like a visiting psychiatrist.

The huge automatic arms of the launcher had completed the refuelling cycle and were moving clear. Kicking himself into action, Koenig shouted, ‘Everybody down,’ and dived once more for the floor In a sequence that seemed to have been going on as far back as memory could probe.

The familiar salvo began to build to its crescendo and then there was a change, a colossal explosion broke into the pattern. Moonbase Alpha lurched at her moorings like a hulk in a hurricane. A rain of débris flailed down on the meteorite screens.

A kilometre outside the perimeter of Moonbase Alpha, the ragtail Moon had itself another new crater. A few wisps of incandescent gas were all that remained of the gunship.

Lined up at a direct vision port, Koenig, Helena, Bergman and Dione stared at it, minds straggling to take it in. Koenig was first to turn away. Moving slowly, still trying to clear his head and take a cold factual look at the evacuation order he had given, he walked slowly towards his desk. Whichever way he looked at it, the answer came out the same. He should have been pleased. It was what they had been trying to do for long enough. But not this way, without an option.

He stopped halfway to his desk and spoke to Victor Bergman, ‘We’re back to square one. Dione’s gunship is knocked out. The enemy gunship is destroyed.’

‘End of round one.’

Helena asked impatiently, ‘Are we just going to sit and wait for round two?’

Koenig said, ‘Maybe they can call it a draw and negotiate for a ceasefire.’

The idea seemed new to Dione, ‘A ceasefire?’

‘You just said you wanted to help us. There it is. A ceasefire would help us. Come to that it would help you too.’

Dione looked thoughtful. Helena would have said calculating. But what she said was encouraging. ‘We don’t usually consider such a thing, but our plan for a quick decisive victory relied on the element of surprise. We no longer have that advantage. Our plan has failed. Of course, I would have to consult my Supreme Command. I can arrange a communications link to put you in touch with both planets.’

It was the first sign of a break in the vicious deadlock and Koeaig strode over to his desk and spoke to Main Mission. ‘Kano—I want you to programme our communications system to open a link with both planets. Dione will brief you on the details.’

He used his commlock to open the hatch and Dione walked through to the operations centre.

Bergman and Helena joined him at the desk and Bergman had another slant on the exercise, ‘John—even if this doesn’t work, it would help us to gain time. Every hour that passes, Alpha is moving on. It won’t be long before this Moon is no further use to either one of them.’

‘How long?’

‘About four hours.’

Even at that, there were a lot of seconds on the clock. Any one of them would serve for annihilation. Koenig said, soberly, ‘Let’s keep them talking,’ and led the way to join Dione in Main Mission.

On the big screen, the continuing travel of the Moon was apparent. The set of the Sun and its two planets had slewed off centre. One planet was clearly moving to a point where it would finally disappear from sight behind the disc of the sun Itself.

Kano was following instructions, tapping out a rapid sequence with Dione leaning close.

Bergman touched Koenig’s arm, nodded at the big screen and said quietly, ‘Like I said, it’s happening.’

It was moving too slowly for much comfort, however. All stared at the screen, willing the cycle to complete itself. They were well placed to get the full impact of the face that suddenly filled the frame and looked down at them. It was a tough, powerful face with a strong jaw and deep set, piercing eyes. It was a face of authority, one used to decision and responsibility. The voice matched it, as it said in measured tones, ‘This is Talos—Supreme Commander of the armed forces of Planet Delta. What do you have to communicate?’

Koenig stepped forward, ‘I am John Koenig, Commander of Moonbase Alpha. I am responsible for the lives of the people on this base. Through no wish of our own, we have become involved in your war. While the fighting continues our lives are in extreme jeopardy. I ask for a ceasefire.’

Every eye was on Talas. There was no change in expression as he said, ‘I appreciate your predicament. We did not start this war. We were attacked treacherously and without warning. The enemy gunship on your territory had to be destroyed.’

Dione was still as any stone, listening intently. Koenig went on, ‘Your gunship came to our Moon and was itself destroyed. Heavy losses must have been caused on both your planets. You have had revenge. I ask for a ceasefire.’

There was a pause. Talos looked straight ahead. Finally he said, ‘I will place your request before the Praesidium.’

The face disappeared and the starmap was filling the screen. Koenig let go a great breath of relief and turned to Bergman, ‘That’s something. At least we’re talking.’

Dione looked at him and he said, ‘Now, Dione. Contact your Command.’

Without an answer, she spoke to Kano and he began another call sequence. They watched the screen and saw the starmap melt away again for another guest appearance.

This time, they had a female face, older than Dione, but strikingly beautiful and yet carrying the same aura of command that had been so marked in Talos. She said, ‘I am Theia, Chief Commissar of Bethan Defence. We are engaged in war. Please be brief.’

It was not a promising start and Koenig exchanged a quick look with Bergman. He began again, ‘Commissar Theia, I am John Koenig, Commander of Moonbase Alpha . . .’

Theia had clearly done some calculations herself and knew that time was not standing still, she cut in, coldly, ‘I know who you are. I have been listening to your discussion with Supreme Commander Talos.’

‘Then you know what I am asking for. I ask for a ceasefire.’

‘We have been accused of starting this war. We did not. It started long before we struck the first blow.’

Helena Russell was the only one watching Dione and she saw the small fierce nod that she made. Body tense as a bow as she watched her Commissar, Dione had the look of a dangerous fanatic.

Theia’s voice went on, ‘They were unreasonable. They have always been unreasonable.’

It was not much of an argument, but Dione was clearly agreeing all along the line.

‘But we are reasonable people. You have asked for a ceasefire. We agree to a ceasefire. If Talos agrees also, we can discuss terms.’

As her face dimmed and disappeared, Koenig looked quickly round the tense circle. It was a moment of hope. Helena was still trying to analyse Dione. There was something in her expression which did not gell. If anything, it was a kind of triumph. But then how could a truce on equal terms appear to her as a gain?

Helena Russell would have liked to talk it through with Koenig or Bergman, but events were moving too fast. Talos was back on the set and against anything Theia could say to the contrary, seemed like reason made flesh.

‘Commander Koenig. We will agree to a ceasefire if it could be properly supervised.’

Koenig had it ready, ‘From our position, we can see both your planets. We could police a ceasefire, because we will give an early warning of any spaceship launched from either planet. Is that acceptable?’

There was no hesitation, ‘Quite acceptable. But you understand that should an attack be launched from your Moon and you fail to inform us. Alpha will be destroyed.’

‘That is understood.’

Knowing that Theia would have her ear to the keyhole, Koenig added, ‘Commissar Theia, do you so agree?’

The screen blanked, Theia’s face replaced Talos’s. She said shortly, ‘We agree,’ and switched herself off.

Koenig felt suddenly drained of energy. Helena and Bergman hurried to him with their congratulations.

Helena, voice warm and affectionate said, ‘John, you’ve done it.’

He was guarded, unable to believe that they had won through, ‘Let’s hope it holds long enough for us to get out of range.’

Bergman said, ‘Well done, John. I must say I had my doubts. Look at that. It won’t be long now.’

They had forgotten Dione, but she added her praise, sounding sincere, ‘Congratulations, Commander Koenig.’

‘Thank you for your part.’ This time at least there was some animation in his voice.

‘It was in all our interests. I would like to renew my offer for you and your people to come and live on Betha. From what I have seen here, you will like us, our way of life is similar to your own. I made the offer at the height of the battle. It still stands.’

‘We need time to discuss this. I suggest that you take some rest. Sandra, would you take Dione to your quarters?’

Sandra Benes reckoned Dione was not the only one who could do with a break. She left her desk ready and willing, ‘Certainly, Commander. Dione would you like to come with me?’

The security guards who had stayed close to Dione moved to go with her, but Koenig waved them off. She had qualified as family.

As the two went out of Main Mission, Sandra was saying, ‘Our living quarters are rather cramped as you can imagine, but all told we’re really very comfortable.’

After the holocaust, it was a quiet, domestic note. Koenig watched them out and then signalled for Helena and Bergman to join him in the Command Office. As the hatch sliced shut behind them, Helena said, ‘Are you seriously considering her offer?’

Koenig seated himself deliberately in his chair before replying and watched Bergman who was pacing about.

‘We can’t afford not to. This is the sort of chance that might not come our way again.’

‘Alpha’s intact. We’re moving out of range. If we commit ourselves to that planet there could be no turning back.’

Bergman stopped his walk and faced them, ‘Betha would definitely support our life patterns. Computer has confirmed spectographic analysis. Even so, I would normally say that a reconnaissance mission would be essential.’

Helena picked up the last bit, ‘That’s the point. There’s no time for reconnaissance.’

‘I know that,’ Koenig sounded impatient. ‘But we have an invitation from people like ourselves, to a planet like our own. How can we ignore that?’

It was true as far as it went, Helena conceded, ‘They’re like us in a lot of ways.’

Bergman said suddenly, ‘We only have her word that we’d be welcome.’

For Koenig that was heresy, ‘It’s a matter of trust.’