The Lost Command (Lost Starship Series Book 2) (39 page)

“Before we get started,” Maddox asked. “What is your feeling toward finding the Swarm homeworld?”

Galyan faced the captain. “Yes. I recall a faint desire in that regard. That ‘faint desire’ I sense through a recovery program tracing former wants. The Swarm virus instilled the desire.” Galyan faced Ludendorff. “That was a remarkable deduction, Professor.”

“Thank you,” Ludendorff said, bowing his head.

“What is your chief desire now?” Maddox asked the holoimage.

“I find myself without a primary want,” Galyan said. “I am in embryo. For six thousand years, the Swarm virus has surged through me, seeking to override my motivation centers.” The holoimage waved one of its ropy arms. “That is the wrong way to speak about this. I am Driving Force Galyan, the deification of a valiant starship captain. In the end, though, my tactics failed to save my planet from destruction.”

The holoimage studied Maddox, continuing to do so until Dana cleared her throat.

“I have reached my conclusion,” Galyan announced.

Dana glanced at Maddox before asking, “Will you share it with us?”

“I will share it with
him
,” Galyan said, pointing at Maddox. “The captain convinced my corrupted self to trust, to make the leap into the dark. I will be forever grateful for that. Thus, I have decided to follow the captain’s lead. For now—until I decide otherwise—I will act on the captain’s commands. During this instruction period, I will teach myself about this era.”

“Excellent,” Ludendorff said, as he rubbed his hands. “Captain, what are your wishes concerning the disruptor ray?”

“I would like it operational for the coming battle,” Maddox said.

“Then with your assistance, Galyan,” Ludendorff said, “we should head to the main combat chamber and see if the two of us can’t bring the disrupter cannon back to its former efficiency.”

“Let us go,” Galyan agreed. “I find it exciting to envision greater combat power. I will become as I was in the beginning. That is a good thing.”

“Indeed,” Ludendorff said, heading for the exit.

***

Maddox returned to the bridge. From there, Lieutenant Noonan, with Keith’s help, brought the starship closer to the Tannish System using star drive jumps.

Tannish was an unremarkable system with a single Laumer-Point near the K-class star. The yellowish-orange fireball had a surface temperature of 4,000 K. Because of the lone jump point, it was a dead-end system. Three terrestrial rocks made up the inner planets with a vast comet field the extent of the outer system. There were no habitable worlds, no science outposts or mining colonies. The star system was normally empty of life.

“Do you see anything so far?” Maddox asked.

Keith had taken over piloting. Valerie made the scans at her station.

The lieutenant shook her head.

That made sense to Maddox. They were three light years out still. From this distance, it was impossible to hide manufacturing planets or heavily mined asteroids. Starships and drones were another matter entirely. Such tiny-mass objects were less than blips in comparison to a planet or even a larger asteroid. There was another problem. A planet or asteroid remained in its orbit, radiating the information year after year. An enemy vessel moved into new positions all the time. Because
Victory
was three light-years out from the star system, any heat signatures they saw would be three years old. If enemy star cruisers had just used the Laumer-Point, they wouldn’t show up on
Victory’s
scanners until three years from now. To see what was going on in the Tannish System in the present, they would actually have to go there.

That was one of the potential dangers with the star drive. One couldn’t see with total accuracy what one jumped toward. The odds, though, of popping into a grave situation were practically zero. Even with Jump Lag, they should have enough time to observe the situation—enemy warships—and make the necessary adjustments. With a Laumer-Point, the enemy knew where to wait, making the old way to travel much more dangerous to use.

Maddox sat in a chair, relaxing before the next jump. “It’s hard to believe we’ve gotten this far,” he said.

From her station, Valerie turned toward the captain. “You didn’t think we could do it, sir?”

“We
are
facing a race of supermen with superior technology,” Maddox said.

“Are you sure about the last part?” Keith asked.

“Ah…yes,” Maddox said. “Do you remember how the New Men tracked the
Geronimo
through the void in the Beyond?”

“I remember,” Keith said. “Was that with sensors, though? I don’t think that would have been possible.”

“Not with our technology, no,” Maddox said. “Maybe the New Men have some super-advanced tech that allows them to scan in a star-drive sort of way.”

Valerie shivered. “If you’re right, sir—that the New Men can track across light-years of distance—they might be able to see us now.”

“If some of them are already in the Tannish System that is,” Maddox said.

The lieutenant nodded.

“What about their jumpfighters?” Keith asked. “Those weren’t better than ours. In fact, they were worse.”

“Those so-called inferior jumpfighters almost allowed the New Men to capture
Victory
,” Maddox said.

“It was far from almost, sir,” Keith said. “We stopped them cold.”

“What if the shield hadn’t gone up in time?” Maddox asked. “What if you hadn’t raced outside in time in the shuttle? That would have meant three times the number of New Men inside the starship. Twelve New Men would have been enough so they would have captured us. Therefore, I’d call that almost.”

“Fair enough,” Keith said. “I’m still thinking of their jumpfighters. They weren’t as good as ours.”

“They were smaller,” Maddox said. “Doesn’t the same but smaller indicate better tech?”

“Sometimes that’s true,” Keith admitted. “But their jumpfighters couldn’t do what ours could. At least, I don’t believe so. They had crappy jumpfighters, sir, barely doing the job. And that’s what I mean. They have selective advantages over us, not total.”

“Better beam, better shield and better hull armor,” Maddox said. “Just how selective is that?”

“Our collapsium hull armor is better,” Keith said.

“It’s also the most expensive in the galaxy,” Maddox said. “Only
Victory
has it.”

“Maybe only our starship needs it, sir.”

Maddox raised his eyebrows. “You want to take on the entire enemy armada with just
Victory
?”

“I’m not saying that, sir.”

“What then?” Maddox asked.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot, sir,” Keith said. “Fletcher has been out in the void for almost six months. How great of a repair can his people have done to the worst hit ships?”

“Not too well, I’d imagine,” Maddox said.

“The Fifth Fleet is likely going to be badly beaten up,” Keith said. “The New Men’s star cruisers—not so much. How much firepower will Admiral Fletcher have left?”

“I take your point,” Maddox said. “Our side is going to be weak, and the New Men are going to be strong. We already knew that at the start of the mission. It’s why Star Watch sent us.”

Keith nodded as he perched on the edge of his chair. He seemed excited. “Sir, I suggest we use
Victory
like a giant jumpfighter.” The ace clapped his hands. “Boom, we appear among enemy star cruisers, blasting our weapons. Boom,” Keith clapped his hands again. “We’re gone, having used our star drive to get away. Bam. We come back, hitting the star cruisers again, and boom, out we go again.”

“The New Men are going to start getting ready for our sudden appearance,” Maddox said.

“True. So, you wait several days. Let the New Men get tired of waiting. After a while, boom, we do it again, hitting them, beaming, before taking off. That’s how the Jumpfighter School envisions using jumpfighters. Hit and run raiders. With our star drive, we have the ultimate jump-ship.”

“I appreciate your idea,” Maddox said. “Yet, there’s a problem. We’re going to be disoriented when we first come out of jump. The enemy won’t be. The New Men will hit us hard before we even have our shield up.”

“I’ll be at the controls,” Keith said, “having juiced up so Jump Lag won’t affect me as badly. I can start fighting right away, well, almost right away.”

“Jump Lag will affect Galyan, and I suspect we’re going to need the AI to run the starship efficiently.”

Keith sat back, with his shoulders hunched. “Okay. Let me think about that a while.”

“Sir,” Valerie said. “I think we should start figuring out where to jump next.”

Maddox made a show of appearing thoughtful. “Any suggestions, Lieutenant?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” Valerie said. “We should jump close enough to the main Tannish System to take a look around. But we don’t want to get too close so the New Men can attack us, in case they have star cruisers there or drones ready to strike.”

“Then?” Maddox asked.

“We almost jump to the Caria 323 System,” Valerie said. “Again, not right into the star system, or we might find enemy drones lighting up, attempting to hit us.”

“From there, we try to jump near where we expect Fletcher to be,” Maddox said.

“Near enough so we can spot the Fifth Fleet,” Valerie said. “Another jump will bring us among them. Once united with Fletcher, we can relay our scouting information of the Tannish System. That will help us make our battle plan.”

Maddox sat back as if considering her idea. After an appreciable length of time, he said, “I like it, Lieutenant. Now, let’s make it happen.”

-39-

Captain Maddox raised his head as the aftereffects of Jump Lag wore off.

He was getting seriously sick of this part of it. He was tempted to raid the last jumpfighter in the hangar bay and confiscate Maker’s Baxter-Locke hypos to ward off Jump Lag.

With an effort of will—making his head throb—Maddox pushed off his chair and staggered to Valerie’s board. She sat slumped in her seat, moaning softly. Maddox began tapping controls, scanning the Tannish System. He searched close first. There was nothing but empty space. Next—

“I can do that, sir,” Valerie whispered.

Maddox stepped back.

Like an old woman, Valerie lifted her arms. She began a more thorough sweep of the star system, tapping the panel as if she’d had the flu for a week.

Maddox turned to the main screen. The Tannish star shined its relatively cool light.

“There,” Valerie whispered.

Turning back to her, Maddox saw the blips on her screen. More appeared. “How many star cruisers do you count?”

“Nine so far,” Valerie said.

“Distance from us?” Maddox asked.

“Several hundred thousand kilometers,” the lieutenant said.

“That’s almost beside us in interstellar terms.”

“It’s closer than I would have expected,” Valerie admitted.

“Are the star cruisers acting as if they see us?”

“Not that I can tell,” Valerie said. “Ah. I’m counting five more, making fourteen enemy vessels.”

Soon, Galyan appeared on the bridge as well. “Fourteen star cruisers are waiting between the inner and outer Tannish System,” the holoimage said. “I have detected faint signs three hundred thousand kilometers before the flotilla, if one considers ‘forward’ to be closer to the Caria 323 System.”

“I see them,” Valerie said, “your faint signs. Those are enemy drones—missiles. The drones are facing the Fifth Fleet.”

“I have not yet detected the Fifth Fleet,” Galyan admitted.

“Neither have I,” Valerie said. “It’s a deduction. The New Men like to employ a massive drone fleet somewhere in their operational mix-up. The New Men have been waiting for the Fifth Fleet for almost six months. It makes sense the enemy would begin the battle with a massive missile barrage.”

“Those fourteen star cruisers have waited an entire six months?” Galyan asked. “I find that interesting on two counts. Firstly, how do you know that to be true?”

“What?” Valerie asked.

“How do you know those star cruisers have been in the Tannish System nearly six months?” Galyan said.

“I have no idea,” Valerie said.

“But you just said—”

“That’s a figure of speech,” Maddox told the AI. “The New Men as a group—the armada—have been waiting nearly six months to finish the battle. We have no idea when those fourteen star cruisers took up station in the Tannish System. Presumably, they have been watching the Fifth Fleet journey from Caria 323 for quite some time. Thus, they know where to put their drones: the likely point of entry for the Fifth Fleet into the Tannish System. Valerie meant to imply we can probably locate the Fifth Fleet more easily by studying the location of the drones.”

“Yes, yes,” Galyan said. “That is clever thinking, Captain Maddox. I can see why your people made you the starship captain of me. You have a quick and obviously intuitive grasp of the situation.”

Valerie rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath before saying, “We should jump as soon as we can, sir.”

“Must we attempt it right away?” Galyan asked. “I dislike the disorienting effect of these leaps.”

“How close is the Fifth Fleet to the drones?” Valerie asked the AI.

“I do not know,” Galyan said, “since I don’t know the location of the Fifth Fleet.”

“Which is why we should jump sooner rather than later,” Valerie told him. “We need to coordinate now in order to make sure Fletcher isn’t taken by surprise later.”

“Yes,” Galyan said. “I understand. It was wise of you, Captain Maddox, to make her the executive officer of me. I congratulate you once again on knowing your task to a nicety as a starship captain.”

“Thank you,” Maddox said.

“What about me?” Valerie asked Galyan. “Are you going to congratulate me on a task well done?”

“I would imagine Captain Maddox would remove you from duty if you failed in your task,” Galyan said. “You are honor bound to perform the best you can. That you do so indicates the captain knew whom to choose for the post.”

Valerie glanced at Maddox. He was already turning away to study the main screen.

“Get ready for jump,” Valerie said. “We’re heading for Caria 323.”

***

There was no joking of any kind as
Victory’s
sensors scanned the Caria 323 System. On the bridge, Galyan stood mute. Valerie manipulated her board, sweeping from one scene to the next.

Maddox sat straight in his chair, frowning at the destruction.

Hulks of starships or their pieces tumbled in the void. Some had taken up a highly elliptical orbit around the star, already becoming meteors. The extent of the space debris showed this had been a brutal battle. Not all the junk was from Commonwealth vessels. Seven enemy star cruisers had died here as well.

“If we weren’t on such a tight schedule,” Valerie said, “it would behoove us to collect some of those pieces. Maybe we could figure out what the New Men use to armor their hulls.”

“Show me Caria Prime,” Maddox said. “I want to know if the New Men bombarded the planet.”

Valerie nodded stiffly. “I’m scanning long-range,” she said. The seconds passed, turning into minutes.

“Anything?” Maddox finally asked.

“I’m detecting high levels of radiation on the planet,” Valerie said. “The New Men dropped hell-burners, sir. I’ve been searching for radio signals, something to show me if some of the population survived.”

“Did the enemy carpet bomb the planet?” Maddox asked.

“I’m not reading planet-wide radiation levels,” Valerie said. “But I don’t think we’re going to find too many survivors down there.”

Maddox made a fist, tapping an armrest of his command chair with it. The New Men hadn’t weeded out seventy-five or even ninety percent of the planetary population. It looked as if they’d taken down
one hundred percent
. Did that mean Per Lomax had been lying to him before?

“Wait,” Valerie said. “I’m getting a signal.”

Maddox leaned forward.

“I can’t make it out,” she said. “The interference is too heavy. Do we head there, sir, and help the survivors?”

Maddox’s lips thinned. He considered the idea, but finally shook his head.

“You must help the survivors,” Galyan said. “It is the ethical action to take.”

“I know,” Maddox said.

“But we don’t have the time,” Valerie said. “We have to save the Fifth Fleet, or there may be too many planets just like this in the coming year.”

“You are a hardheaded, emotionless executive officer,” Galyan told her in a scolding tone.

Valerie’s mouth dropped open in surprise and shock.

“She’s Space Academy-trained,” Maddox said, staring at the lieutenant. “She’s the chosen officer of Lord High Admiral Cook. He made sure the very best officer joined the venture. Her advice is golden, Galyan.”

“Do you agree with her harsh analysis?” the holoimage asked.

“I’m afraid I do,” Maddox said. “I also wonder if the New Men have set up a situation like this on purpose. If anyone goes to Caria Prime, will drones appear and attack?”

“Drones where?” Galyan asked. “I don’t see any nearby drones.”

“Maybe there are some hidden in the planet’s lowest atmosphere,” Maddox said, “ready to rise up and attack any relieving starships. Maybe the survivors are meant to lure us into a bad tactical situation.”

“If true,” Galyan said, “it would show that the New Men are without remorse.”

“It’s time to change our heading,” Maddox told the lieutenant.

“Yes, sir,” Valerie said.

The lieutenant began a long, curving half-loop. After spotting accelerating drones,
Victory
headed toward the Tannish System. The ancient starship traveled at a greater velocity than before, hoping to match speeds with Fletcher’s vessels.

“Any sign of the Fifth Fleet yet?” Maddox asked Valerie.

“No, sir,” she said.

“Galyan?” the captain asked.

“I may have something,” the holoimage said. “Lieutenant, try scanning at twenty-three, six by seventy-two.”

Valerie tapped her panel. She squinted at her screen, adjusted the board several times.

“What is it?” Maddox asked.

“I think I have some exhaust,” Valerie said. “It’s faint, and it has to be…” She continued typing on the panel. “Given the distance from us, the data I’m scanning is four months old.”

“Configure the next jump at their present heading and velocity,” Maddox said, “given that you’ve spotted the exhaust of the Fifth Fleet.”

“Done,” Galyan said, before Valerie moved any of her fingers.

“Put the flight data onto the lieutenant’s board, please,” Maddox said.

“Done,” Galyan said.

Valerie nodded that she saw the data.

“Take us there,” Maddox told Valerie. “But first warn the rest of the crew we’re about to jump.”

***

A half hour later,
Victory
made another star drive jump. The ancient vessel left the outskirts of the Caria 323 System, moving toward the Tannish System. It meant they appeared in the void between the two star systems.

For fifteen seconds, nothing happened on
Victory
. Outside, three
Titan
-class missiles accelerated toward the starship. The big drones moved away from a collection of scoured battleships, beat-up heavy cruisers, nearly empty motherships and a handful of destroyers and more plentiful missile boats.

On
Victory’s
bridge, Maddox finally raised his head. He heard a warning blare from Valerie’s board. Forcing himself to his feet, he still didn’t beat her to her equipment.

Valerie opened bleary eyes, staring at her screen. “Missiles,” she said. “They’re coming at us. Wait. These are Star Watch missiles. What should we do, sir?”

“Open channels with Fletcher,” Maddox said. “If those are Star Watch missiles, it’s a good bet we should be able to see the fleet.”

“Right, right,” Valerie said. With stiff fingers, she tapped her board and scanned the void. “There,” she said in a raspy voice. “I see them, sir. It’s the Fifth Fleet. They’re traveling straight to the Tannish System.”

“Hail them,” Maddox said. “We have to get them to turn the missiles off or redirect them.”

“Yes,” Valerie said. She rubbed her face before going back to her board. Finally, she said over her shoulder, “I’m getting a response.”

Galyan appeared on the bridge. The holoimage opened his mouth.

“Just a minute,” Maddox told the AI.

“It’s Admiral Fletcher,” Valerie said.

The captain turned to her. The lieutenant glanced at Maddox with worry in her eyes. She jutted her head, indicating the main screen.

Maddox faced it. The stars disappeared, and a big man in a scruffy uniform sat in a command chair on a Star Watch bridge. The man could have used a shave. He had white whiskers of several days’ growth.

“Admiral Fletcher?” Maddox asked.

The big man on the screen ran a hand across his chin. It took a moment, as if his mind needed time to warm up first. Then, the man sat up. Suspicion swam in his eyes. Did he suspect a trick from the New Men?

“Who am I addressing?” Fletcher asked.

“You know me, sir. I’m Captain Maddox of Star Watch—” He almost said “Star Watch
Intelligence
.” But that wouldn’t be right. He was regular Star Watch out here.

“Maddox?” Fletcher asked. “The Iron Lady’s pet maverick?”

“Yes, sir,” Maddox said.

Fletcher blinked in confusion.

“You have three
Titan
-class missiles headed for us, sir,” Maddox said. “We’d like you to redirect them.”

The suspicion returned to the admiral’s eyes.

The New Men had jumpfighters, or they had on Wolf Prime. Could they have some here in the Tannish System? Had enemy jumpfighters tried sneak attacks against the Fifth Fleet?

“We’re here to help you, sir,” Maddox said. “I’ve brought the ancient starship that Brigadier O’Hara sent me into the Beyond to find. We’re here to beat the New Men when they try to take apart what’s left of Fifth Fleet.”

Fletcher pushed up to his feet. “Captain Maddox,” the admiral said in a rough voice. “Star Watch sent you?”

“That’s what I’m saying, sir.”

The big man grinned, nodding. Fletcher laughed, and he clapped his hands. “I’d…I’d given up hope. You can’t know what it is like— Yes! Missiles. I’ll get those missiles stopped right away. Bring your ship in. We have a lot to discuss.”