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

“So why has this forced us out of warp?”

“It’s a really significant shift in the gravitational field, well over what was expected when the warp route was calculated. If it had been a constant the warp drive would have compensated but the oscillation has triggered its fail safe to cut in.”

“But these charts are from the Mailon, and can’t be more than a month out of date” queried Aubrey.

“That’s right Maam. So either the charts are wrong or this phenomenon has occurred in the last month.”

“You can’t be serious. There is no reason to believe that these charts would have been wrong and gas giants don’t degrade that fast. Well not any we know” she added.

“That’s for sure and I would bet that the characteristics of gas giants are the same in this part of the galaxy as in ours. So my best guess is that something ‘external’ has happened here.”

“What do you mean?” Aubrey sighed with relief as the medic released his grip on her head. She turned to the medic and asked “Are we done?”

“Maam?” asked Bob.

“No, not you Bob. I’m just trying to get the medic here to leave me be.” The medic took the hint. He was a bit put out but had plenty of other patients to attend to. He simply waved his open hand to indicate she could go. Aubrey nodded. She realised her temper had let her down. She tried to make up by mouthing ‘thank you’ to the medic but his attention was now on the injured knee of the next patient. Aubrey sighed as she got to her feet and walked out of the med bay.

“Sorry Bob. So what are you saying - that some event in the last thirty days has caused this gas giant to shrink?”

“Exactly and I’ll lay odds it’s been manufactured. How, I don’t know for sure.  Most likely a PME device.”

“A what?”

“A Pulman Mass Exchanger. They were outlawed under Geneva 2403 remember?”

“No, I’m not that old Bob – though I’m feeling older by the minute right now.”

Bob ignored her remark. “Suffice to say that PME devices were originally proposed to reduce the cost of resource extraction from gas giants. But after the first two tests caused both star systems to become unstable they were banned.”

“But the rogan don’t subscribe to Geneva conventions do they?”

“No Maam.”

“Why here? Why now?”

“I don’t know. Maybe this is a test.”

“Leave it with me Bob. Good work. Are we OK to resume warp?”

Bob looked up to Tanya who was shaking her head. “Not advised from our current location. We will need to use our impulse engines to get clear of this gravitational anomaly.”

“And how far is that?”

Bob was looking across to the other workstation where Tanya was doing some calculations. She turned to him and held up three fingers. “Hours?” he asked.

She shook her head and responded “Days! And that’s on full impulse power…just to break free.”

“About three days Maam.”

“Oh that’s terrific. Alright pass on the vector you reckon we should take to Alice. I’m on my way to the command centre right now. Thanks Bob.”

Back in the command centre Alice scanned again for threats. She again found none. There was very little traffic of any kind near the gas giant Q4. The Konkorda Pod 2 registered only as an inert piece of space junk that now, like so many other objects, was being sucked into the gravity well of the gas giant.

Its occupant was completely unaware of the Phantom for its cloaking had been automatically turned on when the ship was forced out of warp. Retna had in truth become quite depressed. He had pondered only a few hours earlier whether to go into cryo now and be done with it. But something in his character refused to give in. No he still hoped for some miracle.

Chapter 9. Kiev over Chelora 1720, 2 August

“All right Charles” said Admiral Phil Yomoto “Let’s introduce you to your new boss.”

Charles just nodded and slung his pack over his shoulder. His case was already aboard the warthog shuttle.

Phil watched Charles as he entered the craft. He had real reservations about this. Something in his gut gnawed at him. ‘Fucking politicians!’ he said to himself.

The shuttle docked on G deck of the Resolute. Charles had the good sense to let Phil exit first. Dave, Rihan and acting LCmd Ivan Kiralenko, the current acting XO of the Resolute, were there to greet the Admiral. Dave smiled at Phil as he came through the hatch and stepped onto the hangar floor. He looked inquisitively at the new face that followed close behind. The Commander insignia made him even more curious.

G deck was very busy now that the Kiev Group had arrived. There were resupply shuttles landing and taking off and Dave was under starter’s orders from the flight controller to get the Admiral out of there post haste. After the briefest of introductions Dave ushered Phil to follow him out of the hangar.

In the elevator Phil was quiet and Dave suspected he had some bad or unpleasant news for them. Rihan and Ivan picked up on it too. Charles wasn’t about to say anything at this stage. So they rose up to A deck in silence.

On exiting the elevator Phil said “Perhaps Dave we could have a quiet word, just the two of us.”

Dave looked at Rihan and Ivan and then back to Phil. “Of course Sir.” He looked back to Rihan and Ivan. “If you will excuse us, perhaps you can show Commander Chen the command centre.”

Rihan didn’t look too pleased but she bit her tongue. Ivan nodded.

Dave led Phil into his office. Phil shut the door behind him. A move Dave noted. They sat in the chairs around the small conference table. “So what’s this about Sir?” asked Dave.

Phil had rehearsed several different versions but as so often happened when he was with Dave he knew it was pointless beating around the bush. So he just blurted it out. “Chen is your new XO. This is not negotiable. I don’t like it, but this comes from the highest authority and I mean the highest.” Having got it out, Phil felt a little easier. He shifted his big frame in the chair waiting for Dave’s response. He liked Dave a lot. He was his favourite. He had championed him from the beginning of the war. But he also knew Dave had his own mind and a strong one it was. He braced for return fire.

But all he got was “I see” said Dave in a quiet voice.

This was not the reaction Phil expected. “What…you’re fine with that?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.”

“So we’ll make it work then. What’s his combat experience?”

Phil shook his head. Dave rolled his eyes but wasn’t that surprised. “Staff and training appointments, fast tracked with influence and parachuted into the thick of it for some glory.” Phil nodded.

“Any redeeming features?” asked Dave.

Phil shook his head but then added “He’s a competent organiser and administrator.”

“Well that’s good. Any obvious faults I should be made aware of?”

Phil nodded, took out a memory stick and waved it over Dave’s console. “It’s all in his confidential file. He would have been cashiered out during his Academy years had it not been for his connections. His daddy has been smoothing troubled waters ever since. Perhaps there is one attribute you can utilise and that’s his ruthlessness. Watch him like a hawk Dave. I’m sorry I can’t spare you from this but you know how it is?”

Dave nodded. “Any other surprises?”

“You bet” replied Phil and for the first time since arriving he smiled. “I wouldn’t come all this way just to deliver a bad boy.” Dave smiled. He liked his boss’ humour.

“After we crushed the rogan over Polaris the sleth approached us with an offer. They want us to escort them back to their home worlds, destroy any rogan there, liberate the sleth population, protect them while they rebuild their worlds and in exchange we get a firm base to prosecute the war into rogan space, resources at bargain rates and the support of a brigade of sleth troopers.”

“They don’t have a brigade.”

“Not here and now, but they do have troops resisting the rogan on their homeworlds. Once their population is liberated they will recruit and, with our help, train them and place them under joint command to defeat the rogan.”

“Well that’s all well and good but they have, well had, twelve home worlds – less the one that got destroyed – that still leaves eleven. The rogan aren’t going to give up control without a fight and we’re not exactly flush with troops or ships ourselves.”

“True, that’s why we need to defeat them in detail one system at a time. We have the Big Red One – a whole division – at our disposal. The Enterprise Group will be ready for ops in a month. She and most of the Kiev group will be committed plus your Resolute task force.”

“Task force?”

“I’ve not been idle Dave. The Spectre and Raptor will arrive next week if our good friends at Deathly Hollows live up to their promise. That’s two new Phantom class frigates under your command. I want your task force to reconnoitre the sleth systems. We need to know what forces the enemy has there so we can work out the best strategy for defeating them. Once we have that information your force will conduct a series of raids on the enemy with priority being given to enemy logistic capabilities. Avoid out-right fights. There will be plenty of time for that when we mount the operation to seize the systems.”

Phil paused and looked at Dave. Dave was deep in thought pondering how he would undertake this mission and more importantly considering what could go wrong and what he needed to avoid that. The first thing that came to mind was logistic support.

“How long will we be expected to operate independently?”

“The earliest we can mount an invasion would be the beginning of November.”

“And I guess you want us on our bike as soon as these new frigates arrive?”

“I will give you a week to work up and exercise but I want you in warp to the sleth systems in two weeks’ time.”

“So that’s six weeks on our Pat Malone. You know Torad and Javelin missiles don’t grow on trees. How and where do we get resup?”

“Three Shakura class shuttles will accompany the Spectre and Raptor, fully laden with missiles and other stores. They come with two Hermes class frigates, your old friends the Sydney and Washington as escorts. They are under your command. Don’t lose them.”

Dave nodded. “Droid replacements?”

“They’re here now.”

“Marines on the new frigates?”

“Yep one marine and one droid platoon each. Each will have a cadre of veterans but most are green. That’s the best we could do.”

Dave again nodded. “Ship commanders and crew?”

“You owe poor Alex big time for this. He is now the most unpopular staff officer on Polaris. But he has got you two good crew. Lieutenant Commander Sheldon Brice was on the Auckland with Rudi during the battle. Rudi swears by him. The other commander is another political appointment I’m afraid.” Dave winced. “Hold on though. At least LCmd Meg Songa’s got combat experience. She was XO on the Fisher. She was lucky to escape. Her aunt’s the assistant Health Minister. So try not to get her killed.”

“I’ll do my best” replied Dave in a dead pan manner. The last word trailing off as his thoughts returned to the next point he wanted to raise. “Can Ivan keep his temporary rank? It will put us above our establishment?”

“Oh what the heck. Yeah, let him keep it. He deserves it. Besides it will make the swallowing of the pill easier.”

“It will indeed. Thank you Sir. Oh and one other thing. Rihan will be going back with you to Polaris, right?”

“Not quite. I know that was the deal, but I’m not going back to Polaris. I will be staying here. I’ve hoisted my flag on the Kiev and aim to martial the invasion fleet here. Once Du Gorin arrives to replace her we’ll send her back on the next shuttle.”

“OK. You eaten yet Sir?”

“Are you offering?”

“Yes Sir, I think I am. Give me twenty to break the news and I’ll join you in the mess. I’ll just get someone to escort you there.”

“No need Dave. I know my way.”

After the Admiral had left, Dave asked Ivan to come and see him. Ivan entered half suspecting his fate.

“I’ve got some good news and some bad news Ivan. The short of it is Cmdr Chen is to be the new XO but you get to retain you present rank and revert back to being the senior Comms and Intel officer.”

Ivan nodded his head with grim acceptance.

“It was always on the cards Ivan. I’m sorry.”

“That’s OK Sir. I take it I owe you for retaining my rank?”

Dave smiled. “Let’s just say I played on the Admiral’s guilt.” Ivan smiled. Dave added “we’ve got a new mission and it will keep you pretty busy. We’re going to be doing a recce of the sleth systems and then supporting an invasion. I’ll be doing a formal briefing later. Right now keep that to yourself. We’re hosting the Admiral for dinner. Can you organise things?”

“Of course Sir” replied Ivan and rose to his feet. Just before his tall frame reached the door he turned. “I really do appreciate the rank Sir. It would have been impossible here with Chase as my senior.” Ivan was referring to Chase Hanlon the ops officer who was temporarily promoted to LCmd at the same time as Ivan.

Dave nodded and smiled as Ivan closed the door behind him. He was still smiling when Rihan opened the door directly after and took the seat opposite. “So?” she asked.

“Cmdr Chen out there is my new XO. His dad is the Treasurer. I’m to watch him like a hawk.”

“My poor Dave. Don’t you wish you had me back then?” she taunted.

“True but you are homeward bound my darling.”

“When’s the Admiral going back?”

“He’s not. He’s staying here to martial an invasion fleet. You go back once your replacement arrives.”

“When?”

“Just over a week.”

“Oh well” said Rihan somewhat flatly “At least your new XO is not a platinum blond with long legs.”

“Oh you never know Chen might scrub up nicely.” To whit Rihan burst out laughing.

Chapter 10. Resolute over Chelora 1830, 2 August

Cpl Kali Chada was waiting for the passengers of the warthog to disembark on G deck. She could hardly contain herself. Her eyes lit up as she made contact with Sgt Buster Williams. By the way he moved she could tell he had recovered well from his injuries.

A big grin took over his face. His hands were full carrying his gear but his light blue eyes spoke volumes for the joy that was rippling through his body. He had thought of little else these past weeks as he recuperated first on Beta Phi and then on Polaris.