Audacity (Warner's World Book 5) (39 page)

He was also relieved by the fact that there were no other craft nearby. They had arrived cloaked and would now take the advantage it provided to take a look around. There were three big gas giants on the outer and just two inner rocks, one of which was the sleth home world Sceron.

For the past 2 days they had been warping between the outer planets, launching probes, gathering data. Now Sheldon pondered his next move. Would he risk warping near Sceron?

“Are we still showing only two lights over Sceron?” he asked his battle system officer, 2
^nd
Lt Joslen Lee.

“Correct Sir” came her reply “Apart from shuttle activity the place appears to be devoid of any other warships.”

It was not what Sheldon had expected. The thought crossed his mind ‘we could take these out… pretty easily’. But he knew that was not going to happen. His orders were quite specific.

“Incoming priority message for you Sir” advised 2
^nd
Lt Michael Thurbar, the comms officer.

“Thank you” said Sheldon. He opened it on his terminal screen. All eyes were watching him, save for Joslen’s who for the first time so far was performing her battle system duties without blemish.

Sheldon gave a little sigh. He could not believe they were being re-tasked and would now have to spend another two weeks in warp. He felt the same as he had on one of the many training exercises he had done as a junior officer when he was bounced around from pillar to post and saw no action at all. On one of these, out of frustration, he had refused to comply and demanded to speak with the exercise controller. He recalled being severely rebuked for that. It had been a moment of petulance in which his ego got the better of him. It would not now.

He looked up from the screen and with a smile said “Good news folks. We’re being re-tasked. We warp to Qwantum, deep into rogan space. Things must be hotting up and they need the best there.”

Chapter 24. Raptor in Slintos 1730, 23 August

Meg Songa too had wrapped up her exploration and surveillance of the outer planets in the Slintos system. Like Sheldon she eyed the holo and in particular the lone icon above Mutresh, the sleth home world. There was no doubt in her mind. They could destroy this craft before they knew what hit them.

“Are we still receiving those signals?” she asked her comms officer.

“Yes Maam, every hour on the hour.”

It was clear to her that the sleth Resistance were in charge of a significant area of the planet and were broadcasting for assistance from whoever heard it.

“I think it’s time we took a closer look” she said to her ops officer. “Warp us into the far side of that moon” she directed.

“Wilco.”

Two hours later they arrived on the far side of the moon, launched a probe and waited. The probe came back an hour later, was recovered and the data confirmed what she already believed was the case. There was only one enemy frigate and it looked like the sleth controlled everything save for one city.

Meg was well aware of her orders but here was a golden opportunity to seize the base they would need for the liberation of all of the sleth home worlds. Her fingers rolled over the arm rest. All eyes were upon her waiting for her decision.

Hec leaned over and in a quiet voice asked to speak with her in private. She nodded and he followed her down to the briefing room. Hec closed the door behind him. “You know we can’t attack?” he said more like a statement than a question.

“Look we are the advance recon for an operation designed to liberate the sleth home worlds. Part of that op will be to secure a base within these systems. We can do that right now. It’s wide open. It’s a gift Hec.”

“Maybe but it risks a response that could well stymie the whole op.”

“I don’t think so” said Meg deepening her voice to add more authority to it.

Hec knew he was heading into dangerous waters here but while he might lust after her he took his responsibilities as the XO seriously. He knew it was his duty to counsel against actions he thought imprudent. “But we don’t know and our orders are very specific.”

“Yes they are but we are on the spot and we always have the discretion to vary them if circumstances warrant.”

“But they don’t warrant. If you disobey this order and bang this ship up so it can’t continue to operate, then you will be court martialled.”

“Look Hec I need you to get behind me on this.”

“Maam” hailed the watch officer.

Reluctantly Meg responded “Yes what is it?”

“We’ve just received a priority message for you.”

“Right thank you” she replied and terminated the call. She went over to the terminal and logged in. She read the message quickly. Then she sat down and read it again slowly. She was fuming inside. Like the dog on a leash that had just been pulled, she railed against it. “Fuck it!” she exclaimed.

“What is it?” asked Hec.

“Looks like we don’t have to have this showdown after all. We are to warp to Qwantum immediately.”

Chapter 25. Resolute over Chelora 1950, 23 August

Val was in her element marshalling the replenishment of the Resolute. A heavy lift shuttle was positioned right next to and slightly below them. The ship to ship transfer of outgoing waste and incoming stocks was underway. Val was briefing one of her staff before they hopped onto a shuttle in the hangar.

Dave was there too. He had waited till all the wounded had departed on their shuttles before boarding Whiskey 1. His heart went out to Chase as he farewelled Kat. Now Ivan was sitting next to him in the shuttle. They had been summoned to the Kiev by the Admiral.

It was only a short five minute hop. When he exited the craft he was surprised and delighted to see Rihan waiting for him. She threw any decorum out the window and threw her arms around him while planting a kiss on his lips. When he responded by pressing back she pushed her tongue forward for a full blown kiss. That got a bit of a cheer from the service crew in the hangar but she didn’t care.

As she pulled away with a big smile, Dave asked “How come you are still here?”

“You really know how to show a girl how much you’ve missed her” said Rihan and she gave him a disapproving look. But she couldn’t maintain it. A big smile forced it aside and she kissed him again on the cheek, hooked her arm into his and led him out of the hangar.

“The Admiral can be a persuasive chap. He needed the best ops officer he’s ever had.”

“Of course he did” said Dave with a smile and then added “All the more amazing considering the great pool of talent out here at Chelora.”

Rihan pulled her arm free and gave him a light punch in the shoulder. She quickly re-hooked her arm and turned to Ivan. “How are you Ivan? Has my husband been treating you better than he treats me?”

Ivan smiled. “I don’t think he treats anyone better than he treats you” said Ivan diplomatically.

“Oh you poor souls” she said feigning pity.

Dave just nodded his head in mild amusement. As they waited for the elevator he asked “So is he still angry about my report?”

“Well you got that right” said Rihan. “Boy you should have heard him but don’t worry I stood up for you darling.”

“And what I’m to be demoted now” he said playfully.

Rihan tilted her head down, while keeping her eyes level with Dave’s, a look Dave knew all too well meant that she was unimpressed. “Yee of little faith” she said shaking her head. “But there have been some developments.” The elevator doors opened. Before Dave could ask more he found himself standing in front of the Admiral.

“Welcome Dave” said Phil with a big warm smile.

“See!” said Rihan with a ‘know it all’ smug look on her face.

The briefing, debriefing and outline of the future plan took the best part of an hour and a half. Phil never laboured the merits of Dave’s actions in Qwantum. There would be time for that later one on one. There was really only one focus for Phil and that was on Dave’s role in the coming showdown over Cheklin.

“So Dave do you think you can take out that space station without horrendous losses?”

Dave had been thinking hard about this for the last five minutes. “If it was just a question of knocking it out then yeah no problems. But you want it secured intact. I would like to take a look in more detail at the data Aubrey sent. From those images you just showed it’s huge. Even with the replacements you’re providing, I’m not sure a battalion of droids and a company of marines are going to be enough.”

“If you use the marine detachments from your three frigates then you’ll have two companies of marines” said Phil.

“There could be what 5,000 on board?” asked Dave.

“Yes but most of these would not be warriors” suggested Captain Greta Oppenheim the new Comms and Intel member of Phil’s expanding staff. “We estimate they’ll have a battalion of warriors on board at most” she said pushing her jaw a little forward as she spoke. She was a mature woman with short blond hair and smoky blue eyes that were looking directly into Dave’s. There was sincerity in her look and Dave liked that. He noted the smile lines around her mouth and knew that Alex would not recruit someone without a sense of humour.

“All right I can come at that but even so it’s not like we’re going to enjoy a two to one advantage let alone the recommended three to one. This is corridor to corridor, level to level, close quarter fighting. Even with the droids leading we’re going to be incurring significant losses in our marines. Are you sure it’s worth it?”

“From the data we have” responded Greta “the station is packed with sensors for monitoring the planet. It also has a substantial anti-ship and anti-fighter capability. If we can control that we can secure the planet with a lot less ships, freeing these to take the fight to other rogan home worlds.”

Dave nodded “but how much of that capability is going to be left functioning after we’ve fought all the way through it?” It was almost 2200 and Dave was tired. He recognised it and made a decision not to make any more decisions at the moment. So before anyone could respond he added “Perhaps it’s best if we adjourn this Sir till after I have had a closer look at the specs for that station.”

Phil could see the weariness on Dave and he knew all too well what it was like to be grilled for two hours. “Good idea Dave. Let’s say we meet back here at 1330 tomorrow. Will that give you enough time?” Dave nodded. “I suppose you will be taking your wife from me tonight” said Phil cheekily.

Dave chuckled. “That was my intention Sir but I have made it a practice to not make decisions for her.”

“Very wise” interrupted Rihan and looking to Phil she added “will that be all Sir?”

An hour later, Dave came into the ensuite of his cabin aboard the Resolute. Rihan had just pulled on her tee shirt after taking a shower. Her hair was down and the auburn curls were still damp and wetting her tee shirt where they fell onto it. She was wearing the black lace knickers that Dave had bought her. They were effectively a thong at the back. She leaned forward to the mirror and gave her face a closer inspection. She heard Dave come in and smiled at him via the mirror.

“I love those curves” said Dave.

She wiggled her bottom, knowing that it would be too much temptation for him. And it was.

He grabbed her buttocks with his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. She stood upright as he leant toward her and pecked her on the neck. Her hair wet his face as he did so. She tilted her head to give him better access to the nape of her neck and he took advantage of it. “I should have known” she said.

Dave came up for air. “What, that you have a beautiful rump?”

“No, that you are only interested in one thing” she replied. He dived back in and began sucking her ear lobe. She moaned lightly in response. He moved his arms around her belly and then up onto her breasts. “Well maybe not just one thing” she said with a little laugh. “Ooh, definitely not just one thing.”

Dave was in a hurry now to remove his present. Rihan obliged by bending forward, taking hold of the sink and lifting her feet in turn as the nickers parted company. Dave’s shorts had dropped just as quick. Rihan bent lower and pushed back with her bottom. She was looking into the mirror and could see Dave smiling at her. She smiled at him. “You know I don’t think these ensuites were designed for…Oh!”

Chapter 26. Dyritka 0740, 24 August

Aras hadn’t slept well. His back was aching and so too his left shoulder. He had always found it difficult to get a good night’s sleep when there were big decisions still to make. As was his ritual each morning he would check to see if there were any messages for him from his fellow conspirators. As he sat down at the table and checked his consul he hoped he would receive one from Letnus.

He enjoyed the moment of glee upon seeing Letnus’s message. After reading its content he was very happy indeed. He stood up quickly. “So much to do” he stated for his own benefit. He placed his console in his bag and left for work. “So much to do” he said again as he waited for the elevator. Another part of him though felt like singing. He hadn’t felt this way since making Admiral - such an elevation in power with so much potential. He felt a stirring within him that elated him.

Chapter 27. Resolute over Chelora 0805, 24 August

“Come in” said Dave to the knock on the door of his office.

“Sir” said Charles Chen as he came in.

Dave glanced up at him and could not avoid a little stare at the dressing over his ear. He waved for Charles to sit down. “So you’re off then?” said Dave.

“Yes that’s right. But I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done for me.”

“I didn’t do that much.”

“On the contrary. You have done me a great service and I am in your debt. If you ever have need of a friend with political clout, call me.”

Dave nodded. “So, is it back to Earth?”

“Yes after a short convalescence in Polaris.” Chen paused before adding “You know something, I actually thought I did something useful back there. It was a pleasant change. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I want to come that close to getting killed again but it felt good to make a contribution.”