A Deep Sleep (Valhalla Book 1) (23 page)

“Hard to starboard, crash climb. Emergency thrust.” Martin snapped out immediately.

“Hard to starboard, crash climb, aye. Going to emergency thrust.” Helm responded.

“Engineering, Martin. Chinese battlecruiser has an overloading fusion reactor, I need everything you can give me.”

“Aye sir. One hundred and twenty percent in five seconds.” The Engineer said hurriedly.

“Very well.” Martin closed the line. Twenty percent over the rated limit had about a fifty percent risk of
Thunderer
having a containment failure herself. Of course, if they didn’t clear the area it had a one hundred percent chance of death. They’d started out one thousand kilometers from the battlecruiser, but with the speed they had they were now within four hundred kilometers. The battlecruiser was no longer maneuvering, so Martin was hoping to do a sweeping turn behind her.

“Reactors are at one hundred and twenty percent sir.” Helm called out as his station recognized the added power. Martin noticed the touch of concern in his voice.

“Steady as she goes Ensign. We just need to clear that blast radius.” He soothed.

“Aye sir.” Helm responded.

Martin turned back to sensors to find out the status of the battlecruiser when the 3D tactical display showed him all he needed. It was registering the detonation of the cruiser for all to see, a brilliant series of colors on the display. The battlecruiser was turned to plasma in an instant, Martin knew. The energy release was on par with a small solar flare and it was moving more quickly than
Thunderer
.

“All hands, brace for impact.” Martin said levelly over 1MC. It took a little more than three seconds for the plasma to catch
Thunderer.
Just before it caught them Martin gave another command. “Surge aft repulsors, burn ‘em out!”

Thunderer
dumped almost fifty percent more than the rated power into her repulsors, pushing back at the oncoming storm. While normally a ship had more inertia than the object being repulsed, this case was different. The plasma was travelling quickly enough the force of impact actually accelerated
Thunderer
a small but measureable amount. The repulsors broke the edge of the plasma, like a wave breaking on a pier, surging around the ship. Within the hull, the energy began to bleed through, heating up the ship, shorting out circuits, and overloading safeties. Throughout the ship, the lights went off and the ship was plunged into darkness.

“Status?” Martin snapped out. The battle lanterns didn’t all come online as they were supposed to. Undoing his battle harness, Martin withdrew his own flashlight and crossed the CIC to one of the dark lanterns. He snapped the switch on and it added its dull illumination to CIC. Others followed his example.

“Unknown sir, internal comms are down. Still trying to raise engineering on personal comms.” The Ensign on DC said. Martin turned his attention to the two security officers guarding the inside of CIC.

“I want one of you to head aft, get me an update. Make sure the relays are on as you go.” The relays were personal comm boosters incorporated into the battle lanterns in every passageway and large space. Theoretically, they were supposed to allow for comm signals to navigate the ship in a power outage. That theory wasn’t working out so well in practice.

“Comms coming through sir.” DC reported after a few minutes. Martin reached up and switched on his earpiece.

“Engineering, this is the Captain. What’s your status?”

“Sir, the reactor safeties all kicked in when we got hit by that plasma burst. We’re just about to start the fission reactor back up. I just had my people check all the systems and they are good to go. I can’t check to fusion reactors fully until I have power back, but I can at least turn the lights back on in the meantime.” The Cheng’s voice was a little broken, but still understandable.

“What are we looking at for a timeline?” Martin asked.

“I can get you one reactor, assuming no issues, inside of five minutes.” The lights took that opportunity to come online and the air handlers began to weakly exchange some of the compartment’s stagnant air.

“Keep me posted.” Martin said.

“Will do sir.” The Cheng clicked off the connection.

“Passive sensors, short range only, back up sir.” Sensors reported. “Near space is clear sir.”

“Very well.” Martin turned back to the ensign on DC. “Any more reports?”

“Coming in now sir.” The ensign studied his screen for a moment. “Seems like mostly minor damage, sir. We have some surge protection equipment burnt out, a little bit of overload damage. A lot better than we could have reasonably expected sir. That blast was well in excess of our near-miss design limits.”

“We’ll just make sure we buy the design teams a few rounds once we get back to Ceres.” Martin joked.

“I’m tempted to open a tab, sir.” The Ensign responded.

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“
Thunderer
is reporting full power now sir.” Daniels reported. Athena watched as the cruiser resumed a more controlled heading, moving towards the rest of the fleet. It had taken them ten hours to repair all the damage. In that time, gunboats had recovered the Agema who were responsible for partially disabling the Chinese battlecruiser. Additionally, Captain Kim and her RASAT had actually secured the battlestation. As it turned out, the Chinese really weren’t interested in a fight to the death. Once the Chinese Marine contingent had been wiped out, and with it all soldiers with power armor, the station had surrendered. Athena was thankful for small miracles. Of course, she couldn’t leave a station in the rear area like that, so she had shuttled all of the crew to the Chinese colony in system and then scuttled the station. The station already had a self-destruct capability, another thing that Athena was thankful the Chinese hadn’t used.

“Good timing.” Athena remarked.

“Yes sir. The gunboats will be rearmed in twenty minutes sir.” Daniels responded.

“We will continue on to Mu Cassiopeia.” Athena announced to CIC. “We have a mission to finish.”

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As DSF-1 approached Eta Cassiopeia’s Charlie Slip Gate, there was one last thing that had to be done. Athena stepped into
Tripoli’s
auxiliary shuttle bay in full dress blues, seeing the numerous members of the crew similarly dressed, snapping to attention. The main shuttle bay was still a work in progress. She also noticed the cameras positioned to feed the ceremony to everyone who couldn’t leave their station and to those on other ships. Several others ships were holding their own ceremonies. This was a good bye to brothers and sisters, who while they weren’t blood relations, they were no less family.
Tripoli
was lucky, Athena thought dully looking at the twelve flag draped coffins positioned in the open airlock, having lost so few. She moved to the podium that was positioned just to the left of the airlock and turned to face those assembled.

“Today we have all suffered a great loss, indeed humanity has suffered a terrible loss. These young lives” She gestured to the airlock. “and the lives of so many other promising young men and women were cut short. And now we have the burden of pressing on, without their courage, their insight, their force of will, with us. We’ve lost more than just friends, we’ve lost part of the reasons we fight, for those beside us.” Athena moved her eyes from crewman to crewman, making eye contact with each in turn.

“But this does not mean that we can stop, give up, or wallow in our own self-misery. That would do their memories a disservice and bring shame upon ourselves. We must press on, for them, for all of those who will have died in vain should we lose. They fought beside us in common cause. They demonstrated their steadfast courage and commitment to us, their brothers and sisters. And they paid the ultimate cost, the cost in blood, which war always extracts.”

“Now, we commit their bodies to the depths of space, to be one with the universe from whence we all came. May they travel the stars in peace and see a universe free of war and unblemished by the worst that mankind has to offer.” Twelve Marines marched into the airlock, solemn looks on their faces. Most of those coffins contained their own, fallen comrades from the battlestation attack. They moved along the rows of coffins, removing two flags at a time and folding them into the traditional triangle. For how many hundreds of years had that folded flag been placed in the hands of those left behind, a sad token for a life lost.

As they exited the airlock, a quick signal from the deck chief, the airlock door began to close. The wail of the door alarm and flashing red light broke the moment of silence. Athena drew up into a salute. The rest of the crew followed suit.

“Farewell and peace be with you.” Athena whispered softly as the airlock door clanged into the closed position. A brief rush of air and space laid claim to them.

Sol System: Earth

Chinese Military HQ, Hong Kong

Vice Grand Admiral Chen Qiang walked briskly towards the Grand Admiral’s office, anxious about the meeting. Grand Admiral Tan Min, Qiang’s longtime mentor, had been very vague about the meeting. Qiang had detected something else as well, resignation, hopelessness? He couldn’t believe either, but there was that nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Qiang had only just arrived back on Earth, having just led a successful campaign to liberate Epsilon Eridani. He was actually annoyed to have been recalled, since the mission to capture the Indian colony in NJ 3569B was due to begin just after he was recalled. The system, was cut off from the other two systems under Indian control. Qiang had wanted to lead the mission personally, as a culmination to the campaign he had planned.

He had reached the outer office and there were two guards at the inner door. At first, Qiang thought nothing of it, until he noticed their uniforms weren’t right. They weren’t Chinese Marines, as was typical. Qiang’s blood ran cold when he realized they were the uniforms of Internal State Security (ISS), the famed open-secret police force that terrorized all who would oppose the Party inside China. Qiang fought to control himself and stepped up to the young Lieutenant manning the desk. He, at least, was a familiar face.

“I’m here to see the Admiral.” Qiang said, remarkably calmly to his own ears.

“Yes sir, he is expecting you sir.” The young man sounded much shakier. His eyes kept drifting towards the ISS guards and then snapping back to Qiang.

He’s scared,
Qiang thought.
As he well should be.

Qiang followed the young man to the doorway. The ISS guards snapped to a lazy salute, so sloppy Qiang suspected they were daring him to try and reprimand them. Qiang gave them a quick, sharp salute without stopping. The lieutenant opened the doors and entered the Grand Admiral’s inner santum. As Qiang entered, the lieutenant drew himself up into a parade ground salute.

“Vice Grand Admiral Chen Qiang for you, sir!” He said, his voice loud but still uncertain.

“Thank you Lieutenant.” Grand Admiral Tan Min gave him a salute and the lieutenant retreated from the room. The doors closed with a soft thud.

“Reporting as ordered, sir.” Qiang drew up into a near perfect salute as he approached Min’s desk.

“Relax, Qiang, you’ll pull something.” Min joked, but it seemed to be forced. “Take a seat and let’s discuss matters.”

Qiang took the offered seat and faced his commander and friend. He seemed to have aged somewhat quicker than Qiang would have suspected. He had seen him not 18 months ago, but his grey hair seemed to have spread to cover his head.

“The campaign against the Indians, you have done well. I suspect it will not be long before we complete our task of pushing them from space altogether.” Min began.

“Yes sir.” Qiang wanted to ask about the ISS guards, but he restrained himself.

“Unusual guards, no?” Min said knowingly.

“My thoughts were along those lines, sir.” Qiang said carefully.

“I am being replaced, I’m afraid.” Min said simply, his tone deadpan.

“Sir? I…” Qiang trailed off, looking at his mentor in confusion.

“My abilities have been called into question by the Party. They have decided to replace me with a…more capable commander.” Min stood. “Congratulations Grand Admiral. I know you will do the Party and the People proud.” He extended his hand.

“I..I don’t understand.” Qiang said dumbly.

“You needn’t. Just secure for us the victory we so desperately need.” Min responded, pulling Qiang into a close embrace. “
Be careful who you trust, they are everywhere.
” He whispered quickly into Qiang’s ear, so softly he could barely be understood.

“And good luck to you as well.” Qiang said. Min stared into his eyes for a moment before departing abruptly. As he exited, the ISS guards formed up beside him and they marched away. Qiang stepped into the outer office, but the young lieutenant was also missing.

“I’m afraid the young man must accompany his commander.” A cold voice said behind him. Qiang wheeled to face his unexpected visitor. He sized the newcomer up quickly, leisurely leaning against the outer office doorframe. He was an unimpressive looking individual, looking for all the world like anyone’s middle-aged uncle.