The Sunfire (38 page)

The only remaining operational particle cannon swivelled on
its mount to target the docking arm many kilometres ahead. The massive barrel
started to glow brightly and then in the blink of an eye the weapon discharged
the blindingly bright, highly concentrated beam of photons. Travelling at
nearly the speed of light the beam began to glow brighter and brighter, as it
impacted at the junction of the docking arm. The heavy armour of the station
started to melt under the extreme temperatures imparted by the high-energy
photons. Soon the beam cut through the external armour, slicing through the
heavy load-bearing supports underneath like a hot knife through butter. It
didn’t even take the full thirty seconds before the beam had completely
eviscerated the junction. Sliced cleanly through, the docking arm was floating
freely like an amputated appendage.

“We’re through Commander,” the Tactical Officer called. “The
docking arm is no longer attached to the station.”

“Good job,” Jon congratulated the crew. “Now that we’ve put
the eight ball in play, let’s give it a
whack
to get it moving. Do we
have any Mk. VI’s remaining?

“Two.”

“Then load one into the bow missile battery and prepare to
fire.” Jon hurried over towards the tactical console and marked an area of
space a few hundred meters beyond the station. “Let’s target there. It should
be close enough to impart just enough momentum to get the ball rolling, but not
enough to vaporise it.”

“Ready Commander.”

“Then go ahead and fire.”

For the second time within as many hours, the lone missile
arced off the bow of the ship. Quickly gaining distance, the missile orientated
itself, before charging towards the station. However, this time the target was
no small docking bay, but a kilometre long docking arm. The missile flew
straight and true, passing a few hundred meters overhead of the structure. Once
the correct distance away, the missile vaporised into an expanding ball of light,
heat and energy. Within the space of a few milliseconds the shockwave hit the
docking arm. Photons, electrons and neutrons, all passing their momentum onto
the docking arm. For an instant it seemed as if it had not worked, then ever so
slowly, millimetre by millimetre, centimetre by centimetre the massive arm
started to move, in the direction of the
Sunfire
.

“It’s moving Commander,” the Operations Officer called out
in stunned surprise. “It’s moving in our direction, slowly but picking up
velocity.”

“Ok time to reel them in,” Jon muttered. “Helm. Reduce
velocity, let’s reel the destroyer in closer, after all we don’t want to ruin
our surprise.”

“Won’t they figure out what we are doing?” Paul asked not
believing the plan seemed to be working.

“No,” Jon replied. “We have just blinded them with that
nuclear detonation, anyway they will think we were just aiming at the station.
How close is the enemy warship?” he asked.

“Less than two kilometres now. Their guns are just coming
into range.”

“Very well, we don't want them any closer than that. Helm,
down on the y-axis plane, but slowly. We don’t what to ruin our little surprise
for them. Just make it look like we are manoeuvring for a better position. The
enemy ship will go above us, as they must be aware that we’ve lost our aft
missile battery. They can pound us from above and we have no way to retaliate,
or that's what they think.”

Meanwhile the large patch of darkness continued to creep
ever closer to the
Sunfire,
like a miniature blackhole it seemed to swallow
all light. Very slowly, so as if to appear to be simple manoeuvres, the
Sunfire
started a shallow dive. The kilometre long docking arm, travelling in the
opposite direction, passed a few hundred meters above the ship.

“Time to impact?” Jon inquired

“Thirty seconds.” Came back the prompt response.

The destroyer must have eventually realised the extreme
danger the ship was in, as its engines suddenly went to full power, trying
desperately to manoeuvre out of the way. However the destroyer displaced almost
one-hundred thousand tonnes. It wasn’t a fighter that could turn on a dime. In
last minute desperation the crew of the
Sunfire
could see the bright
flashes as the destroyer used its pulse cannons, missiles and rail guns to try
and destroy the obstruction. However, the docking arm was over one kilometre of
heavily armoured alloy, the strongest and densest material that science had yet
invented. It was like shooting a BB gun at an elephant. It had absolutely no
effect.

The docking arm slammed into the destroyer, just short of
amidships, tearing a three hundred meter long gash along the hull of the ship.
The ship seemed to shudder for a moment, and paused, as if taking a gasping
breath upon receiving such a horrifying wound. Then slowly one-by-one the
lights extinguished, the engines dimmed before going still, the ship was
adrift, powerless. Helpless.

“I think it’s time that we went home,” Jon said to the quiet
bridge. “What’s the nearest FTL jump point?”

“Three hundred kilometres dead ahead Commander, twenty minutes
until we are at a safe distance to jump.”

“Very well. I had better go and check on the Emperor.”
However he was interrupted by another massive jolt striking the ship, causing
it to tip dangerously to starboard before it slowly righted itself. “What the
hell was that?” Jon demanded with clenched teeth.

“Multiple contacts astern,” the Operations Officer called.
“Looks like a squadron of Tyrell ships. They must have just arrived in-system.
I am counting one light cruiser, one destroyer and four frigate class ships.
Approaching rapidly.”

Jon and Paul exchanged a worried glance. “How long until
they are within weapons range?” Paul asked.

“They are already in range of their missiles. They will be
within range of their guns in less than five minutes.”

“Can we outrun them?”

“Negative Captain. We’ve taken too much damage to the
engines.”

“Jon, any ideas?”

Jon cast his gaze around the bridge, one that in some ways
was so familiar to him, and in others completely alien. “Yes. It’s time for us
to leave,” Jon said softly, meeting the gaze of the crew who believed in him
and trusted him to get them home. Just like the original crew of the
Sunfire
that he had failed so utterly. Reaching over the back of Paul’s chair Jon
pressed the control to activate the ship’s internal communications system.
“This is Commander Radec,” he began without preamble. Taking a deep breath he
announced. “All crew are to proceed to assigned shuttles. We are abandoning
ship. I repeat all crew to abandon ship.” Looking up into the astonished expressions
of the bridge crew Jon said. “That includes you. Go. That's an order.”

With a quick glance at Paul, who nodded his head, the bridge
crew left in a hurry, heading towards the flight deck and the waiting shuttles.

“That includes you Paul,” Jon said firmly.

“I’m staying.”

“Like hell you are. I promised Carol and the kids I was
going to make sure you got back to the station. Alive. If I go back there
without you, she would kill me anyway.”

“I think you’re forgetting who you are talking to Jon. You
made me Captain of the
Sunfire
, not you. Didn’t you know the Captain
always goes down with the ship?”

Jon just scratched his chin. He
had
forgotten that
old tradition. “Good point,” he said. “I had forgotten about that. You’re
fired!”

“What?” Paul gaped at him in disbelief.

“I’m the Chief Executive of Vanguard and you work for me. So
I’m firing you. You are no longer Captain.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Can.”

“Can’t. Look Jon,” Paul replied exasperatedly. “I’ve already
broken the news of your death to Sofia once this lifetime and frankly that is
once to many in my book. I’m not leaving without you.”

Both men ducked as another missile impacted the side of the
ship. The chorus of alarms and sirens, now included a hull breach warning.

“One of us needs to cover the departing shuttles. There is
no point in us both dying.”

“Agreed.”

“So what do you suggest?”

“Draw straws?”

Suddenly another alarm could be overheard above the din of
all the rest, a twinkling bell, mixed with an incessant beeping.

Jon angled his head thoughtfully for a moment. “That's a new
one for me.”

“Me too,” Paul agreed hunting around the bridge for the
console emitting the strange alarm. “Got it,” Paul called out. “It’s the alarm
for the gravimetric sensors on the ship. There are multiple wormholes forming,
fifty kilometres dead ahead,” Paul explained with a sudden stab of fear.

“Directly in the path of the departing shuttles,” Jon
reciprocated with a horrified expression.

Confederation Navy 12
^th
Fleet, Eta Cassiopeia
System

“I don’t understand Admiral,” Captain Harrison exclaimed in
frustration.

“Oh? Please enlighten me Captain. What is it that you fail
to comprehend?” The Admiral replied with a knowing smile.

“
What are we going here?”

“Training manoeuvres,” came the immediate reply.

“But Admiral, we haven’t done any training or manoeuvres.”

“I’m sorry to disagree, but we are indeed training.
Manoeuvres will come later.”

“What training?” The Captain almost exploded in frustration.
“We have been sitting around here for the past six hours.”

“We are training in the art of doing nothing. This is an
important strategy that is often used in combat to confuse the enemy.”

“It is?” Captain Harrison asked dubiously.

“Absolutely,” Sterling replied with a broad smile.

“Admiral, Captain, I am sorry to interrupt but we are
picking up a distress signal,” the Communications Officer reported.

“How many?” Sterling turned his penetrating gaze on the
young officer.

“Uh what?” The officer replied, confused. That was not the
usual response upon being informed that a ship was in distress. “Just the one
Admiral.”

“Oh,” the Admiral almost seemed disappointed.

“But there is something very unusual about it,” the officer
was quick to add.

“Unusual how?” Sterling inquired, intrigued.

“It’s broadcasting an Imperial Fleet distress signal, but
Admiral how is that possible? The Imperial fleet has been disbanded for over
half a decade.”

“Indeed,” Sterling replied sitting up straighter. “This
requires immediate investigation. Signal the rest of the fleet and notify them
we are going to be getting underway immediately.”

“All of them?” Captain Harrison inquired aghast. “For one
distress signal?”

“Indeed, the entire fleet.” Sterling confirmed with a nod.
“Last thing I want to do is get separated. You youngsters would just end up
getting lost and I would have to waste my time looking for you all. Indeed we
all go. At the same time signal the fleet to go to an alert status.”

“Uh what?” The Captain replied, terribly confused. He felt
like he was falling behind on current events. “Why? It’s only a distress call.”

“Always be prepared Captain, remember that. Always be
prepared. It could be
—
pirates? Yes. Pirates. A pirate
attack would be a good reason for a distress signal.”

“Of course Admiral,” Harrison replied, looking at Sterling as
if he had completely lost his mind.

“Chop, chop. Let’s get underway. Otherwise the pirates might
get away. Lay in a course for Tartarus in the Sigma Draconis System and bring
the FTL drives on line.”

Captain Harrison narrowed his eyes. He had the distinct
feeling he was being played. As he could not remember anybody telling Admiral
Sterling the distress signal was coming from that system.

So how did he know?

*****

The chime from the communications console next to his bed
woke Sterling from a very pleasant dream. Hence in a very un-Admiral like
voice, he slapped his hand on the console and in a rough voice replied, “This
had better be urgent otherwise I will have you shot. Twice.”

“Hello Frank. Long time no speak. How are you keeping?”

Admiral Sterling shot straight up in bed, nobody had called
him by his first name since he was at the academy, and that voice
—
but
it was impossible.

“I thought that you were dead.”

“That was the idea Frank. I wanted to enjoy my retirement,
in peace and quiet.”

Meanwhile Sterling was rapidly trying to blink the sleep out
of his eyes and get his brain into gear. “So after all this time, why call
now?”

The voice, and it was only a voice. Sterling had checked.
Sighed. “I need a favour Frank.”

“You. A favour. I don’t think so. The number of times that
you almost got me killed.”

The voice sighed again, but deeper this time, before
replying, “I was hoping you would not be difficult about this, but very well.
I’m calling in my markers.”

“Your what?” Sterling demanded, aghast.

“You owe me Frank, and you know it.”

Sterling bit his teeth together in frustration, before
letting out a breath. “What do you need?”

“Your fleet.”

“You cannot be serious,” Sterling laughed.

The voice on the channel went silent.

“You are. You must be joking, I cannot just waltz off with
the 12
^th
fleet. Any deployment orders must come directly from the
Senate. What’s this about anyway?”

“Sofia Aurelius is in trouble. She was just kidnapped from
Memphis
.
I have identified the ship that took her. It belongs to the Tyrell Corporation.
They are taking her to Tartarus in the Sigma Draconis System. I cannot help
her, not there, but you can. Radec is already on his way, but he needs your
help.”

Sterling was astonished. As far as he was aware Sofia was
safely back in the Senate and Radec was dead. But if what this man said was
true, and what he already knew of this man, he did not doubt him for a second.
Sofia was like a daughter to him. If she was in trouble then he had to help.
“There is nothing that I can do,” Sterling sighed deflated. “I need Senate
authorisation to deploy for combat operations.”

The voice on the line was quiet for a moment before it
suggested, “But what about training manoeuvres.”

Admiral Sterling, Commander of the 12
^th
fleet
went silent, deep in thought.

*****

“We are coming out of FTL now Admiral,” Captain Harrison
reported.

“Very well,” Sterling replied. “Secure from FTL and signal
the fleet to await orders. What are the external sensors showing?”

“
Fuck me
,” the Tactical Officer breathed aloud in
disbelief.

“Lieutenant. I will not accept such profanity on my bridge!”
Sterling roared. “Now could you possibly be a little more specific?” He added
after a moment’s hesitation.

“Where to start Admiral?” The Tactical Officer complained.
“I am detecting multiple ships in orbit. Many of them seem to be disabled or at
least heavily damaged. Sensors are picking up one Titan defence station,
heavily damaged and looks disabled. The second Titan station is
—
gone.”

“Let’s keep focused on what is still here,” Sterling replied
testily.

“I am detecting multiple weapons fire, fifty kilometres dead
ahead. Sensors are detecting a light cruiser, a destroyer and four frigates in
close formation. They are all broadcasting Tyrell Corporation ship registries.
They seem to be shooting at
—
Admiral the ship that they are
chasing is broadcasting an Imperial Navy recognition code. It’s authenticated.
Identification the
Sunfire
.”

Sterling scratched his cheek, wondering where he had heard
that name before. “Try and hail the ship,” he ordered.

The view screen came to life showing two stunned officers in
Imperial Navy uniforms staring at the view screen in disbelief.

“Admiral Sterling?” The younger man exclaimed, shocked.

“Commander Radec, what a surprise to see you here,” Sterling
replied, obviously not surprised in the least. “And is that Captain Harrington
I recognise standing beside you? Well, this is certainly an old Navy reunion.”

“Admiral our ship has taken heavy damage,” Jon interrupted
whatever else Sterling was going to say. “We are in the process of abandoning
ship via shuttlecraft. We need your help to protect the shuttles. The Imperial
Princess is on board one with her father.”

Sterling just whistled aloud in amazement. “All you need is
Admiral Harkov to turn up and we would have the old family back together.”
Blinking away his surprise, Sterling turned to Captain Harrison. “Launch
fighters. Order them to intercept and escort those shuttles back to the fleet.”

“Yes Admiral,” the Captain hurried over towards the
Operations Officer to ensure his orders were carried out.

Turning back to the view-screen Sterling replied, “Done.
What about yourselves?”

“You are too far away to assist us, Admiral. The warships
are almost in range of their guns. Now that you are here we will also abandon
ship.”

“Very well. I’ll contact the Tyrell fleet and try and get
them to back off, but I’m not holding my breath. You seemed to have kicked over
a hornet’s nest over there.” At the nod of acknowledgement from Jon, the
view-screen shutoff.

“Get me whoever is in command of that flotilla,” Sterling
ordered his Communications Officer.

The view-screen once again came alive, but this time the man
was dressed in the black and silver uniform of the Tyrell Corporation.

“This is Admiral Sterling of the Confederation 12
^th
fleet, I am ordering you to withdraw. Now,” Sterling instructed.

“This is internal company business, nothing to do with the
Confederation Navy. Stay clear,” The officer replied angrily before the
view-screen once again cut off, leaving an angry, red-faced Admiral.

“Damn the arrogance of the man. Captain!” Sterling yelled.

Recognising the expression on the face of his Commanding
Officer Harrison quickly added. “Admiral, by Senate decree we are not permitted
to get involved in corporate actions, not unless we are fired upon first.”

Sterling just stared at Harrison furiously for a few moments
before turning back to the helm officer. “Very well. Plot an intercept course
between the Imperial warship and the pursuing flotilla. Put us between the
two.”

Harrison just gaped at the Admiral. “You cannot do that
sir.”

Tapping the five silver stars on his lapel, Sterling
replied. “These say I can do almost anything I like, and if the Tyrell ships
continue shooting then they are shooting at us and I can do whatever the hell I
like. Sound general quarters, flank speed ahead.” As Sterling turned his back
to Harrison he added quietly. “Now the fleet can get some real training.”

*****

Jon and Paul just looked at each other in shock when the
view screen cut off, leaving them, once again, alone on the bridge of the
Sunfire
.

“Looks like there is no need to draw lots,” Paul broke the
silence on the bridge.

“I wonder how Sterling knew we were here?” Jon replied in
amazement. However, another huge explosion shaking the ship reminded the two
officers of their precarious situation.

“So I assume you have changed your mind about staying?” Paul
added with a wry smile. “I would have thought you were looking forward to
seeing Sofia again. It’s been about three years since you last saw her.”

“Two,” came the automatic reply. “Not that I am keeping
count or anything,” Jon added quickly. “And yes I have changed my mind about
staying. I have already filled this lifetime’s quota of suicidal dives into
enemy warships, thank you very much. Time to go.”

However as they reached the threshold of the bridge, Jon
came to an abrupt halt. Turning to Paul he insisted. “You go on ahead.”

“Jon…”

“I’m coming, I promise. I just need a minute alone. Please.”

Paul looked intently at Jon but upon seeing the guilt lurking
in his eyes, nodded abruptly. “But only one minute otherwise I will come back
and get you.”

Jon nodded his head in thanks, as Paul disappeared through
the door towards the flight deck. Taking a deep breath, closing his eyes, Jon
turned around to face the empty bridge once again.

However it was now no longer empty. It was just like the
last time that he had stepped onto the bridge, on that fateful mission in the Beta
Hydri system, before everything went to hell. The original crew of the
Sunfire
were there, motionless, standing at attention, just staring at him. However Jon
felt no anger or malice in their gaze, only calm acceptance of their fate.
Falling to one knee, bowing his head Jon took the opportunity to do what he had
long regretted that he could not.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, knowing that they would be able
to hear him. “I’m sorry for letting you down and for failing you. I promised
you I would get you all home, but I abandoned you when you needed me the most.
I should have been here for you but I promise you that while I live, you will
also live on and I will never forget you. I’ll remember the sacrifice that you
made. That I promise. Goodbye my friends.” However when he looked up once again
the bridge was empty, deserted. Jon hoped that the crew had finally found the
peace that they deserved.

Turning his back he hurried through the door after Paul. Jon
had lived in the past long enough. It was time to embrace the future.

*****

“Took you long enough,” Paul complained as Jon entered the
cockpit of the
Endless Light.
“By the way do you know that your ship
talks?”

“Yeah, the problem is shutting it up,” Jon replied, noticing
the engines had already been powered up and the ship was ready to depart. With
a raised eyebrow at Paul, he replied.

“Don’t look at me. The ship did it all by itself. I just
suggested it.”

Shaking his head in disbelief Jon rotated the shuttle until
it was orientated towards the exit of the hangar bay. Pushing the engines to
full thrust they shot out of the bay, quickly diving to stay close to the hull
of the warship, as Jon knew they were now in weapons range of the Tyrell ships’
guns. This was quickly reinforced by the warning from the ship’s tactical
display that they were being targeted.

“Might have left it a bit late,” Paul voiced his concern out
loud.

“We’ll put the
Sunfire
between us and the Tyrell
fleet. That should buy us a little time,” Jon replied. However, it immediately
became apparent the enemy ships were finally within weapons range as a series
of explosions briefly illuminated one side of the ship as the enemy heavy guns
opened fire. “Change of plan,” Jon replied when it quickly became apparent the
Sunfire
was not going to last long under such a concentrated barrage. “We’re going to
run for it.” With that the small shuttle shot out from underneath the shadow of
the huge warship and headed at maximum speed towards the approaching
Confederation warships.