Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action (5 page)

Gindane was watching the battle intently for over several minutes as she waited for the Jerecab to make a critical decision. She also noted that the four remaining Sspol cruisers already had moderate amounts of battle damage. The coming battle was going to a plan that she explained at length before she gave two crisp orders.

‘The Jerecab have been forced to use missiles to drive off the Sspol and this works in our favour as they need several minutes to reload. I did not want to risk facing a full missile broadside from the armada when we still have to defend the human home world. All ships are to alter course for the receding edge of the armada but remain at high speed. We will launch missiles at selected targets and use our limited beam weapons to destroy any strays nearby.’

Gindane now took note of an additional detail about the recent battle. The wreckage of a single human destroyer was spinning away in space now past the orbit of Neptune. She then checked over the smaller ships in her fifteen ship strong research fleet. The captain called up the commander of the Elysius and began a quick briefing. Her newest destroyer was also the weakest and the fastest, so she knew she had made the right choice.

‘Commander Raferio, you will take the Elysius over and rescue survivors of the human destroyer Cairo. I understand you can speak their English language and we will tell the humans you are coming to their rescue. You will do this after our missile launch, and I recommend you first dock, then take onboard the survivors before you power away from the hulk.’

Gindane then sent messages to both the commander of the Cairo and to Admiral Neilson on the Exeter. The research captain noted that the human fleet would soon be passing around the back of Neptune as they began the gravity assist manoeuvre back towards Earth. The range timer sounded and the Barus fleet launched their own missiles at the Jerecab armada. Gindane monitored the renewed battle and wondered when Omerio would turn up with his full squadron of fighting ships.

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Omerio was in a patient long distance conversation with Joel Everson, as the two groups of ships were separated by millions of kilometres of space in the Epsilon Eridani system. The Jerecab reinforcements had been easy to follow until their commander had succeeded in evading his cruisers by taking two hyper jumps in quick succession. The Barus captain now knew he had swept for too long across the nearby systems for any further Jerecab reinforcements after speaking with Commander Everson.

‘Captain Omerio, The Jerecab reinforcements forced me to hide in a remote system four days ago and we are attempting to get back to Earth by first going to the Tau Ceti system. The other jump location in this system will take you to the Alpha Centauri system. It is actually quicker for you to go this way than to follow us to Earth.’

Omerio had already understood this was the case as Gindane had used this very combination of hyper jumps to bring first her ship and then later a Barus fleet to Earth so long ago. The fleet was the very one he know commanded and he knew that his ships would be allies of Earth this time around instead of potential foes.

The view screen froze as Commander Tamerio indicated that he was recording any incoming messages. Omerio spoke carefully as he was concerned about the presence of two Trader sneak ships in with the three human destroyers.

‘I understand you have those two sneak ships in your company now and I request information on how this came to be so. If you are already explaining the facts behind these sneak ships then I offer my apologies. Also I recommend that these Trader ships be prohibited from entering your home system until the Jerecab are defeated. We want to curtail any further interest from galactic races in your planet not encourage it.’

Omerio was grateful he had been diplomatic, for the recording from Joel Everson continued and Omerio soon learnt of the whole story of the attack of the Fenshilla on the Trader wing ship. The captain was speaking with Tamerio as they reviewed the information being sent across to them. Both of the Barus officers were amazed by the news that the two sneak ships were being operated by Barede colonists. The view screen came alive again an hour later as Commander Everson spoke in a hurry.

‘The Jerecab have arrived at the solar system after being delayed in the Tau Ceti system. They have those reinforcements with them now and our planet requires urgent assistance. You will need six hours to cross the outskirts of the Alpha Centauri system and so good bye and good luck Captain.’

Omerio did not bother to send a reply as the humans were within minutes of making their own hyper jump to Tau Ceti. Tamerio came across with navigation information and they now both set about taking as much time as possible off their transit times to Earth.

The five small human ships vanished and Omerio silently wished them luck as he watched them go. Another forty minutes saw the Barus squadron arrive at their own hyper drive point, and the cruisers exited the Epsilon Eridani system in flashes of white light.

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Chapter 3

Grant Stoneham stifled a yawn of boredom, as the smaller hull of the Maveen probe slowly made his way back over to the much larger Emerald Sky. In space nearby, the four remaining tankers awaited his instructions, and off to one side several Maveen gate ships hung motionless in space. The smaller black ship or probe was actually the sector delegate and the most senior ranking Maveen in this part of the galaxy. The other senior Maveen probe, the Dradfer probe was now absent after having been with him on his two earlier landings.

Grant knew that the original probe must be on another mission, and he speculated that the senior probes must communicate amongst themselves regularly to allow for this changeover. However Grant did not feel very charitable towards the Maveen after a long journey filled with even longer periods of waiting. He forced himself upright in his command chair and noted the understanding glances from Gayle and Olaf, who then returned to running the Emerald Sky.

The sector delegate finally halted in space nearby and began to speak at length in a harsh metallic voice that the humans listened to closely.

‘We finally have been given leave to approach another independent race, the Altoran, who are located in several star systems nearby. We are over fifteen hundred light years from the world of the Quixxe refugees and you are forbidden to mention their existence to the Altoran. Grant will meet with them alone after landing on one of their star bases in another shuttle. The Altoran are not interested in trade as they hold the offerings of other races in contempt. The Traders do get along with them to a limited extent, but note that the Altoran also have good reasons to fear the vassal races. We seek only passage through their star systems as we are loath to use our gate ships too close to the edge of the Carinae sector.’

The sector delegate provided further information on this part of the galaxy and Grant now paid close attention.

‘We will then later leave for an interesting star cluster holding several younger star systems. The Altoran may need convincing that they should supply scout ships to help us in these efforts and this is where you may be of assistance.’

Grant was bemused by this request for assistance, and he commented dryly across the link and then he asked a pair of questions.

‘Well the whole process is taking long enough and you must remember that humans are not long lived by the standards of the other races. So how do we know the Altoran will not hold us in contempt as well? Why should they help us if we cannot trade with them?’

The Maveen probe remained silent for several minutes and Grant fumed at the obdurate nature of a mechanical life form used to operating on a vast time scale. Obviously the probe was calculating out a scenario, and Grant waited with unease until the Maveen finally replied, though he felt the probe was still being obscure.

‘Your efforts with the Huopheen in terms of interaction are a suggestion, and the methods of instructing the refugee Quixxe are another. Remember you cannot reveal the existence of the Quixxe to the Altoran.’

Grant took the terse instructions as a given and soon had made a simple plan. Two gate ships had then taken the Emerald Sky and the Maveen sector delegate across another fifteen light years to the worlds of the Altoran in a matter of hours. The Emerald Sky trailed the Maveen probe towards a massive star base on the outskirts of the new star system. Olaf and Gayle looked up nervously from their console screens as they detected several massive ships shadowing their approach.

Grant was checking over his own preparations and then gave a measured assessment of the new threat.

‘Well we are leaving our meagre weapons unpowered though our shields are active. Each of those ships is cruiser strength or above, so we are obviously in an important system.’

The two other humans waited with dry mouths as Grant quickly finished his preparations. Gayle walked with him down to the hangar deck and the waiting shuttle, and Grant took a moment to reassure his fiancée with a kiss.

‘The Maveen have a vested interest in our survival and we are well advised to trust the sector delegate. Of course he cannot control the interactions of biological races and this is where we come into play.’

The two of them cuddled for several moments and Grant was aware that he would have to get her back to New America within a few months. Gayle in turn reassured him as she stood back and patted her larger tummy.

‘Grant, you are not to worry about me or the ship, just stay alive so we can complete the mission. I will rest up again during this watch for we will be travelling through several star systems shortly.’

Grant was soon onboard the shuttle and slowly piloting his way across to the massive Altoran star base as he followed the sector delegate. The Maveen probe led his shuttle into a large hangar bay and Grant carefully set his smaller ship down some fifty metres from the landed probe. He looked out of the shuttle cockpit around the dimly lit hangar bay, and noted that the dull grey floor appeared to be seamless. After several minutes the Maveen probe addressed him tersely.

‘The Altoran approach and you should not keep them waiting.’

Grant quickly stripped down to his shorts, even though it was much colder in the shuttle than on the Huopheen world. He then grabbed two back packs, each stuffed with a holographic encyclopaedia, before walking across to the rear hatch of the shuttle. Grant left both packs on the deck by the hatch as he walked down the lowered ramp onto the deck of the hangar. He remained silent as he looked around the dimly lit hangar before he closed to within twenty metres of the nearby Maveen probe.

The hangar lights suddenly brightened in intensity tenfold and Grant remained motionless as he squeezed his eyes shut. After several moments he opened his eyes and remained still as he looked around him. Several aliens stood nearby and Grant took in his sight of his first Altoran.

The Altoran looked like enormous black striped toads with massive hooded eyes on either side of their heads. The resemblance was also there with their stout limbs and their grey swarthy skins, before he noted the differences. The Altoran were all crouching back with weapons aimed at him and he now noted that they were also leaning on stumpy tails to brace themselves. Grant could also see that when they opened their mouths that it was filled by two thick horizontal enamel sheets that must be their teeth. He kept silent and still as the Altoran looked him over before glancing across at one another. The lead Altoran, by way of his more ornate tunic, finally spoke in passable Trader to Grant.

‘Welcome to the Sigri colonies of the Altoran. I am Bel’khai Sigri and I speak for my people as lead counsel. So you are a human originally from sol three, and you do not bow and scrape like a despised vassal in our presence. You also have courage for you have come alone, near naked and unarmed.’

Grant quickly stifled a bow but gave a nod of respect that he hoped was polite as he replied.

‘Lead counsel, I am Grant Stoneham, a merchant ship captain from the Barede colony. Our colony was founded with the assistance of the Maveen and Traders. I understand you seek no trade with other races. We seek passage to complete a mission of discovery requested of us by the Maveen.’

Grant paused at that point and waited for the Altoran to speak again. He noted that the Maveen probe was remaining silent and still to one side. Bel’khai was speaking softly to one of his advisors at length in his own language, and Grant forced himself to remain still under the guns of his Altoran guards. Presently Bel’khai turned dismissively towards him and began to speak in measured tones.

‘The interaction of other races with each other is of little concern to us, though we will know of any other discoveries you made during your journey. My first concern is that these worlds remain well hidden from the eyes of the senior vassal races. We also trade with those we can trade with, kill those that need to be killed and will eat that which can be eaten. Also can you verify your original home world to us?’

Grant took a deep breath, as he now understood the problems the still hidden Quixxe refugees could later face. The Altoran race just needed to be led in the direction that the Maveen probe had hinted at earlier. He pointedly looked at the many weapons aimed at him as he replied.

‘Lead counsel, I have proof of our claims nearby, though no Altoran may be permitted to go aboard my small ship. We also found the refugee world of the Huopheen over two thousand light years away.’

The lead counsel raised a taloned hand to quieten the muted buss of excitement that came from the assembled Altoran. He left his hand raised and gave a terse instruction in his own language. Grant noted in relief that the surrounding soldiers were now holstering their laser rifles in slings on their massive backs.

Bel’khai now stepped closer and Grant was well aware that the Altoran race must be large predators. The alien towered over him by at least a metre and the two wide bladed teeth in his mouth looked both large and sharp. The lead counsel looked back for a moment at his two advisers who gave him bemused looks in reply. He dismissed their cynicism from his mind as he spoke to the human again.