The Tactics of Revenge (17 page)

Sherri was equally shocked by the admission from Riyad. He had always been the most cold-hearted creature she’d ever met, be it Human or alien.

The compliment was not lost on Jym, either. “I am grateful for your comments and will convey them to Kaylor. He will find them to be soothing, I am sure.”

After Jym had also left the room, Riyad looked around at the others, all staring back at him with stunned looks of their own. Finally Riyad smiled and simply said, “What a putz!”

Sherri just locked her eyes on Riyad.
There may be hope for him after all.

Chapter 32

Early the next day the two recharge crews showed up right on time. There were five members of each team – for surface recharging. Since neither Kaylor nor Jym had ever been aboard a ship large enough to require an orbital recharge, they had no idea how many would be on those crews. That was something they would have find out.

The most striking feature about the crew that showed up was their uniforms. Even though the ten workers consisted of beings from three different species, they all wore the same bright green outfits, custom-fit to their body style. They covered nearly every square inch of their bodies, leaving only their eyes to peer out through special goggles. The only two creatures not to wear the full-body uniforms were the two supervisors.

With the hazardous nature of the work, the uniforms made sense. They would also provide the perfect cover for the Humans in the assault team. Kaylor could go in dressed normally – as a supervisor – and help with the cover story the team would project.

The recharge crews also came with chests full of the necessary tools required to run exhaust tubes, insulted power lines and to help install the new power modules. These chests would allow the team to take ample firepower aboard the Juirean ship with them.

Chief Rutledge had trained Sherri and Riyad in the use of the Heckler & Koch MP7A1 submachines they had onboard. These weapons were part of the initial cache the SEALs had brought with them from Earth, when they escaped just as the Juirean bombardment was taking place. The MP7 was a Close Quarter Battle – or CQB –submachine gun, ideal for operations within houses, buildings, aboard seafaring ships – and even starships. It was lightweight and compact, with ample firepower to rip through any alien flesh or battle armor, yet not powerful enough to risk puncturing the hull. It also came with a 40-round magazine, which could come in handy against a force of over ninety aliens.

As the Chief had explained to Sherri and Riyad – the other three SEALs didn’t need instruction – the numerical superiority of the aliens could be overcome by locking down access points with sustained coverage. One well-placed and amply-stocked gunman could hold off an entire army if the attackers could only travel two abreast down a narrow corridor. And even a pile of dead bodies could serve as an effective barricade against an attacking force.

As it turned out, most of Riyad’s early training had consisted almost entirely of CQB techniques. Most terrorist firefights were planned for inside buildings, ships or airplanes. But as had often happened during previous missions with the SEALs, Riyad was in complete awe of their weapons, training and abilities. He had often thought that if Middle Eastern terrorists-in-training were to ever spend even a week observing the SEALs in action, the radical mullahs and sheiks would have had a much harder time finding gullible recruits for their jihads.

While the recharge was underway, Jym spent time in the Library researching the energy company known as Travess. Once the contract workers had departed, Jym called everyone to the landing bay of the
JU-224
for a briefing. He brought slides.

“I have discovered information that even Kaylor and I did not know about power distribution within the Expansion,” the feisty little alien began. “It is true that the Juireans control all of it. Apparently they maintain three planets just outside the Alliance Cluster where they produce the fissionable material that goes into the power modules. The process is very complicated and expensive, as well as restricted by the Juireans to only themselves and their designated contractors. In times past, apparently there were literally a thousand such worlds where energy production was practiced. But as the Expansion took over, the Juireans strongly enforced the current embargo. Now only a few underground operations are in existence, and they are constantly sought out and expunged by the Juireans.”

Jym turned to the large monitor he’d set up earlier and pressed a remote control in his hand. The picture of large building appeared, consisting of a long sloping roof and one tall side rising up perpendicular to the ground. It looked like a large pyramid laid on its side. “This is the Travess headquarters building on Sagus Un, on the Wanneus side of the galaxy.”

“Hold up there a minute,” Lieutenant Tobias called out. “I appreciate all the work you’ve put into this, Jym, but we don’t need a history lesson to mount this op. And what the hell is a
Wanneus
side of the galaxy?”

Jym regarded the much larger being for a moment, a look of defiance on his hairy face. When he continued speaking, his voice was lower and more cadenced. “Forgive me Andy Tobias, but I am just being thorough. Once you understand a brief summary of how energy is distributed through the Expansion, you might be better able to do your job.”

Tobias bristled and locked his jaw, but remained seated. “Then by all means, please continue,” he said, his own voice an octave lower.

“And the Wanneus side of the galaxy is the side where Juir is located. We are currently on the Orumo side. I do not know why they are called such, but would be happy to research it for you.”

Tobias shook his head quickly. “No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll take your word for it.”

“As I was saying, the Travess operation is headquartered on the Wanneus side of the galaxy about a hundred light years from Juir. They are one of a hundred and twenty individual contractors the Juireans have chosen to distribute the recharged modules throughout the Expansion. They are quite a large company, and are one of nine such operations here on Zinnol. But being one of the oldest and biggest, they are also one of only fifteen which can recharge Juirean vessels throughout the Expansion. They even supply most of the support energy ships for the Juirean fleet.”

Jym changed images on the screen, this time showing a boxy shuttlecraft with two large external chemical lifters attached to each side. In the forward section of the ship was a long tube extending out about twenty meters. The craft was painted in a bright orange with two green stripes running diagonally from the top of the fuselage and down around the side lifter units.

“This is a Travess recharging shuttle. It is a vessel like this that they use to shuttle energy modules to orbit. Their fleet service ships are much larger, yet they are all painted with this same distinctive color and pattern.”

“Great job, Jym,” Tobias said, trying to smooth any ruffled feathers between him and the tiny alien. “They should be easy to spot in the shuttle port.”

“This is true, however, you must be instructed on how to approach a Juirean warship in orbit so as to not get blown to atoms by appearing to be a threat.”

“Of course. Please continue.”

The tiny bear-like creature was enjoying his moment in the spotlight before all the much bigger and stronger aliens. Using his controller, he sent out a thin red laser beam that pinpointed the long tube projecting from the front of the shuttle.

“This is the module transfer tube. Kaylor, I’m assuming you will be piloting the shuttle, which the Humans will have secured for you.” It was a statement more than a question, so he didn’t wait for an answer before continuing. He pressed the controller again and a diagram of a Juirean Class-3 battleship appeared on the monitor. With the pointer he highlighted a section of the starboard side of the starship, near the aft. “There is an access port located here which the module transfer tube connects to. If you spend any time trying to locate the port, the Juireans may suspect you are not a real recharging crew. There will also be a very defined course to approach the Juirean ship, which hopefully is programmed into the shuttle’s nav computer. Otherwise Kaylor will have to use his best judgment on the approach and hope it works.”

Everyone took a moment to look at Kaylor, who began to squirm in his seat. Sherri, who was seated next to him, reached over and patted his arm. “I have confidence in you, Kaylor. You’re the best pilot I’ve ever seen.”

Even though her words seemed to make Kaylor feel better, she knew she wasn’t telling the full truth. Although Kaylor could pilot just about any spacecraft ever made, she had no doubt that Riyad, Adam and Chief Rutledge were probably better pilots than Kaylor, based upon their natural coordination and reaction times. But for what he was expected to do, Kaylor was – well, adequate.

Jym continued. “Once you are docked, a two-being crew moves along the tube, transporting the modules. In the meantime, another access umbilical is extended from the top of the shuttle and the other members of the recharge crew enter the interior of the ship from a portal above, right here.” He pinpointed the location with his beam.

“Once onboard you will be in the main generator room. The fuel modules are placed in the reactors, of which there are a total of nine aboard a Class-3. You must take caution that the drained modules are removed first and placed in secure containers—”

Riyad raised his hand to get Jym’s attention. “You do realize we are not going aboard to actually recharge the Juirean ship, don’t you? All of this is just an excuse to get onboard.”

Jym stared out at the faces looking back at him. He looked so disappointed. Sherri was sure he had an entire presentation prepared on exactly how to recharge a Class-3 starship, from start to finish. He looked back at his monitor and then back to the silent audience.

“Of course, Riyad Tarazi, you are right.”

“So where do you think Adam would be kept onboard the Juirean ship. Do they have a brig – a jail,” Tobias said, allowing Jym an out.

“They do not have a jail. However, Adam Cain may be in the medical center, as a result of his injuries. However, that was over fifty days ago, and I have witnessed how fast Humans heal from injury. He should be fully functional by now.”

“So you have no idea where he could be?” Chief Rutledge asked.

“Impossible to tell, but there are two quarantine cells in case a crewmember is exposed to radiation or a foreign virus of some sort, although this is very rare within the Expansion.”

“Where are
they
located?”

Jym used his pointer to highlight an area to the port side of the medical center. “These rooms would be secure, and with locking devices.”

Lt. Tobias stood up and moved to the monitor. The medical center was located about a third of the way up the ship from the generator rooms and two levels higher. That was a lot of territory to cover aboard a hostile ship. “Where is the main crew berthing areas, Jym?”

Jym seemed delighted that the Humans were now turning to him for expert advice. He stepped up to the monitor and pointed with his hairy hand. “Here and here, toward the rear of the vessel, on the same level as the main generator access. The generator rooms are four levels high, yet access is from the lowest levels.”

Tobias studied the diagram for several moments. The rescue team would have to navigate one of two long corridors, moving right past the main berthing compartments, and then access the medical center level by moving up two flights of stairways – and that was even assuming Adam was in one of the quarantine cells. The team would have to move fully one-third of the length of the starship, and then return the same way. He had hoped for a clandestine operation, spiriting Adam away before being noticed. But that wasn’t going to happen now.

Lt. Tobias turned to the others seated in the landing bay. “Our mission is not only to rescue Mr. Cain, but to also escape without gettin’ ourselves killed in the process. The only way to accomplish both objectives will be to take over control of the whole fucking ship.”

Tobias heard the inhale of breath from the two aliens in the room; the Humans showed no emotion, appearing to be a step ahead of him in their own assessment of the situation.

“The
entire
battleship!” Kaylor said, jumping to his feet. “That’s impossible. There are only five of you against over ninety Juireans and crew.”

“I know,” Tobias said, grinning at the excited alien. “Hardly seems like a fair fight – for us that is.” He looked in the faces of Rutledge and Tindal. “Be sure to pack a lot of ammunition, boys. We’re goin’ huntin’.”

Chapter 33

Rutledge and Tindal headed out later that afternoon to scout the ships at the Orbital Assignment Staging Grounds, the spaceport where the recharge shuttles were parked. It was a smaller section of the main spaceport running along the northern side of the landing field. From a street running outside the tall security fence, the two SEALs could clearly make out the rows of nearly identical space shuttles, all with the prominent docking tubes sticking out of their forward sections, just under the pilothouse viewports. All the shuttles were painted in distinctive colors and patterns, many with logos of the various companies which owned them.

The distinctive orange and green of the Travess ships was clearly visible on nearly half the ships; Rutledge counted twelve of them just from what he could see through the fence. All the shuttles, however, appeared to be smaller than the one Jym had displayed in his presentation. The SEALs continued walking.

A little further along, Tindal surreptitiously pulled out a powerful monocular and aimed it at the far end of the OASG. Off in the distance sat four shuttles, larger than the others, surrounded by a secondary security fence and guarded by two very bored looking creatures. One Travess shuttle was sitting in plain sight of the street. The guards sat on a pair of chairs at the entrance to the secure area, protected from the hot, late-morning sun by a rusty, corrugated tin-roof awning, their flash rifles laid casually across their laps. One of the beings was eating something, while the other was leaning back in the chair, his eyes closed.