First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure) (10 page)

BOOK: First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure)
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Leaving the new captain to explore his new ship, the trooper-first walked down the line and presented the other three with their new ships. The look on Leatha’s face was something to behold when she realized the ship Berlon indicated now belonged to her. It seemed to Delmar that both Leatha and her new ship were in awe of each other.

Leaving her, Berlon and Delmar walked down to the last of the new ships. Delmar looked at the patroller and found himself too stunned to speak. The sight of its sleek black fuselage was almost too much for him to bear. He’d expected an old second-hand ship, but not this! His eyes took in the various weapon and sensor pods along its outer hull and he realized that this little ship had incredible firepower.

 Below the ship number AR-237, Delmar saw a blank space painted with primer. The trooper-first noticed his gaze and commented. “They left it blank so you can name the ship if you want,” he said. “But just remember, whatever you choose will be there for decades to come.”

Delmar just looked at the trooper, in awe of the fact that he’d been given the responsibility to name a ship, and that from that day forward, the ship could never be renamed, even if a new captain were assigned to it.

The trooper-first clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll be back with the transport in an hour to round the four of you up,” he said with a grin. “Go inside and explore to your heart’s content.”

Delmar was just starting toward the hatch when Berlon spoke up again. “I suggest you look over the new drive system and fix it in your mind. After we get back to the training center, we’ll make arrangements to get all of you signed off so you can fly.”

∞∞∞

The sky was nearly cloudless over the rocket launch complex near the equator of Maranar. On the launch pad towered the glistening shape of a multi-stage rocket, the latest space probe perched at its apex high above the ground. This would be the eighth such probe launched in the last few years. It was hoped this would help provide valuable information prior to the upcoming manned mission.

This probe was significant in another respect too. Part of its upper stage contained reserve fuel supplies that would be placed into orbit around Maranar’s largest moon. By storing reserves of fuel at the halfway point of the planned manned mission, they were able to reduce the overall size of the launch vehicle needed to boost men into space.

With a thunderous roar, the multi-stage rocket lifted from the launch tower and hurtled toward space. As each stage of the booster assembly flawlessly jettisoned, the scientists gathered in the main control room of the launch complex watched anxiously until the upper two stages were successfully boosted into low orbit.

Almost thirty minutes later the next-to-the-last stage ignited to break the vehicle out of orbit. The burn of the rocket was timed to set the assembly on its trajectory toward Maranar’s largest moon. The last of its fuel sputtered into the burn chamber just as the rocket reached the speed necessary to accomplish the maneuver. Explosive bolts were detonated and the spent booster stage fell back toward Maranar’s surface, allowing the last stage and probe to continue outward. A few days later the last stage would fire retro rockets in order to place itself and the probe in a parking orbit around the moon.

At another location a small group of scientists also watched the news reports of the launch on an older video monitor.

“Well, they finally got it off,” Dr. Spenser said when the vehicle broke orbit and headed out. Around the room several of them smiled. In one way or another, most had connections with Maranar’s fledging space program.

“I wish we could get a signal feed from the sensors aboard that probe,” Oren added. “It would be interesting to see if we could pick up any more signals from out there.”

“It wouldn’t work,” Dr. Garret, their lead scientist interjected. “The sensors are of a bandwidth that would miss the harmonic.”

“Oh, did you hear the news?” Oren asked. “They’ve reconfigured the radio telescope. It won’t be able to pick up the harmonic anymore.”

“Well, we better get busy and finish building this transmitter,” Garret replied. “Otherwise, we won’t have any way to gather bleed-over signals or communicate if they answer us.”

The news reporter on the video announced that the probe and last stage were on their way toward Maranar’s largest moon. One of the scientists watching grunted, “Do you think the space people will spot the probe?”

“I’m sure they will,” one of the others replied. “I would if I were watching.”

∞∞∞

Lugging his travel bags and his portable computer, Stan boarded the transport ship. The loadmaster directed him to his cabin where he stowed his gear and then went looking for the duty officer.

The call to ship out in support of action against a Red-tail insurgency had come quite unexpectedly. With only an hour’s notice, he’d been ordered to transport to one of the motherships in the rapidly forming reinforcement fleet. The transport would catch up with the rest of the armada and Stan would then be transferred along with other specialized personnel.

Upon reporting to the duty officer, Stan was directed to one of the mess cabins for a briefing. He found himself with about twenty or so other troopers and Ladies-of-the-Fleet. A trooper-first strode into the cabin and called for their attention.

“Okay, here’s the lowdown on why you’re here,” he announced. “Some of you may have already heard rumors, but you know as well as I do that you can’t believe rumors.” He looked around the room to see if everyone was paying attention to him.

“Here’s the real skinny on the situation,” he continued. “There’s a major action developing against a large contingent of Red-tails.” Several troopers nodded. “A major Red-tail concentration was discovered two sectors over and all the local ships are attempting to entrap them. We’re moving in to reinforce those ships and augment their capabilities. Each of your specialties will be needed to help maintain and coordinate these efforts. We also hope to capture a Red-tail ship and strip it of useful information. Any questions so far?”

The trooper-first paused and waited for any questions. After a few moments of silence he continued. “We should be in transit for about fifteen hours before we reach the main reinforcement fleet. Once there, you’ll be transferred to your assigned ships before the fleet moves out. I want you all suit-ready for the transfer to speed things up. Your gear will be encased in pressure containers and sent out the airlock with you.” He again paused and gauged their reactions.

In-space transfers were usually accomplished using flexible tubes between ships. However, since time was of the essence, they would be transferring equipment and personnel using pressure suits and containers. It wasn’t anyone’s favorite way to change ships, but the urgent nature of the situation required them to use the fastest means possible.

“Until we arrive at the rendezvous point, I suggest you hit the hay and get some sleep,” the trooper-first continued. “You’re likely to need all the rest you can get once the fleet gets under way. I’ll have someone rouse you an hour before transfer so you can suit-up and get your gear ready. Any questions?”

The assembled troopers looked at one another but no one spoke. “All right, you’re dismissed,” the trooper-first ended. “See you in few hours.”

∞∞∞

Delmar looked up from the technical manual he was studying and tried to refocus his tired eyes. Besides that, he had a nasty tension headache developing in the back of his head and down his neck tendons. He and the other three new captains had been cramming ever since they’d been assigned their new ships. The orientation on the weapons alone had taken the better part of two days in class. Add to that the new sensor equipment and the mysterious Albert drive, and they were all rapidly approaching saturation.

The orientation officer looked out over his charges and smiled.
They’re really pushing themselves
, he thought.

“All right, I think that’s enough for this morning. Let’s take a lunch break and hit it again in about an hour.”

The four students looked relieved and closed their books. Together the small group left the classroom and headed to the mess hall for chow. Later over their food, the four new captains resumed discussing their favorite topic—ship names.

“So what name have you come up with?” Delmar asked Leatha as he took a bite of chicken pie.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied, waving her fork. “I was thinking
Starfire
or
Aurora. S
omething like that.”

“What about you, Eaton?” Delmar asked.

“I thinking about calling mine
Flash
,” he answered. “You, Waldon?”

“I decided to wait until I fly it and see how it fights,” the other new captain replied. “Then it can name itself.” The others nodded in agreement.

“And you, Delmar?” Leatha asked just as he took another bite.

He rapidly choked it down and answered, “I’m still working on it.”

Leatha fixed him with a glare. “Come on,” she said. “You can’t duck out like that. We know you’re thinking of something.”

“Yeah, Delmar, out with it,” Eaton interjected. “Tell us what’s going on in that noggin of yours.”

“I don’t think you guys would understand,” Delmar hesitated. “It’s too hard to explain.”

“Try us,” Waldon said. The group grew quiet while they watched Delmar wrestle with a decision.

“Okay,” he finally answered, “but I have to explain first.” The others just waited so Delmar continued.

“A few years ago when I was still living at home, I was out working in our garden on our family farm,” he began. “My late older brother, Dorn, had sent me out to hoe the weeds because I hadn’t brought him a drink fast enough that morning.”

Delmar paused as painful emotions crossed his face.

“So I was outside hoeing around the cabbages when an Axia ship flew over our farm on its way to the nearby spacefield. My brother caught me watching it and threatened to beat me if I didn’t get my attention back on those cabbages. Right then and there I promised myself that someday I’d fly in one of those ships,” Delmar said firmly. “But I never expected this!” The others grinned at his comment.

“Later, I let the dream go as a foolish whim and applied myself in computer school,” Delmar said. “That didn’t work out like I had expected and I ended up here. It was a total shock to me to be assigned here for survey and flight training. You’ve all seen the results.”

“So what name are you considering for your ship?” Leatha asked, determined not to let Delmar get away without revealing his secret. “You never said.”

“Promise not to laugh?” Delmar asked hesitantly. The other three nodded solemnly.

“When I passed as captain I remembered that incident between me and my late brother. That’s when the idea for a name came to me.”

He looked expectantly from one friend to the other. “I think I’ll call it
Cabbage Patch
.”

∞∞∞

Silently, the science probe and the last stage of the booster hurtled outward toward Maranar’s largest moon. At a speed that would appear to be nearly standing still compared to Galactic Axia ships, it passed the former location of various Watcher ships. But the probe’s passing went unnoticed. The ships that would have normally spotted it were long gone to rendezvous for the upcoming battle.

Aboard the mothership the holographic display showed the containment globe surrounding the concentration of Red-tails. The entrapment was nearly complete. They only had to advance to their final positions to prevent the escape of the enemy.

Reinforcements were enroute to augment this effort and provide a second layer of defense for several populated star systems. The commander was well aware that they wouldn’t be in-place for another couple of days, but it was still reassuring to know help was on its way.

Now time was becoming critical. As the Axia ships drew closer together, the risk of being detected by a Red-tail scout increased tremendously. There’d already been several close calls, but the lack of reaction by the surrounded Red-tails gave the commander hope that the Axia ships were still undetected.

An aide appeared at her shoulder. “Commander, we just received word from the main reinforcement fleet out of Theta.” The commander smiled at the mention of Theta. The fleets based out of that sector were noted for their aggressiveness against the Red-tails.

“They report they’ll be underway within ten hours,” the aide continued. “They expect to be here in another thirty-six hours. A few of their new scouts will be at their picket stations within eight hours using the new Albert drives.”

“Thank you, lieutenant. Signal our appreciation.” The aide nodded and left. Commander Tess turned and looked again at the holographic display. News that the reinforcement picket ships would be in position soon was welcome indeed. That would help plug any gaps in the entrapment globe.

Commander Tess marveled at the thought of the new Albert drive. It was four or five times faster than their regular bedsprings drive. The maneuvers such speed made possible were almost mind-boggling. Unfortunately, the new drive was still only experimental and was not yet available to all ships of the Galactic Axia. From what she’d heard, all the tests so far were favorable and plans were underway to refit several of the older ships.
Perhaps if this battle goes well, this old bucket will be one of the lucky ones
, she thought.

 But that wouldn’t help with this engagement. “It’s just nice to know it’s a possibility,” the commander mused aloud. With a sigh, Commander Tess put her thoughts of better days ahead on hold and refocused her attention on the holographic display. The upcoming battle was taking shape and she didn’t look forward to the inevitable casualties.

 

Chapter Seven

Tension in the makeshift lab had been escalating all day when the scientists finally all gathered to try out the new transmitter. The boot-strapped collection of oscillators, inductive modulators, and bridge circuits sat on a bench at the far end of the laboratory. In another location not far away the corresponding receiver had been assembled and tuned for the experiment.

BOOK: First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure)
4.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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