Scout Force (52 page)

      
“That is not necessary Mr. Shepler.
 
We are both proficient in piloting this type of ship.

      
Shepler continued, “Well then, relax here until we are out of the system.
 
We will parallel the frontier for a time before turning toward our next destination.
 
You will drop off before we turn.
 
You may take the shuttle with our compliments.
 
Would you care for some more Scotch?”

* * * * *

      
Sensors called to the bridge that the Manchu Warrior was departing the 6633 system.
 
Kelly brought the sensor plot of the Manchu Warrior up on his monitor.
 
It was leaving Refugio and heading toward the frontier.
 
It made a turn to starboard.
 
Kelly expanded the field of view to encompass the FTL ship behind them.
 
He expected to see the courier’s ship belch forth for the meeting.
 
Nothing appeared.

      
The captain took his seat on the bridge.

      
“Kelly, I think we’ve been suckered.
 
The courier’s ship should have appeared by now.
 
We’d better get ready for our run to the border.
 
We’ll take out this guy above us with the EMP and go out the way we came in.
 
We’ll wait ‘til the Manchu Warrior is out of range before we scoot.
 
That EMP burst will show up a long way on sensors.”

      
“Bridge, Sensors.
 
We have a shuttle leaving the Manchu Warrior.
 
It's heading for the frontier and directly at us.”

      
The captain looked up in surprise.
 
“What the hell?
 
What can it be meeting up with?
 
Oh hell, it’s meeting the fighter.”

      
Kelly called up the schematic on the fighter.
 
“It can’t, sir.
 
The fighter has no docking collar or hatch.
 
Same thing for the scouts.
 
It must be going for the FTL ship behind us.”

      
The shuttle punched through the frontier without a stir from the K’Rang sensors or mines.
 
The two scouts out on the flanks turned and headed back toward the FTL ship.
 
The fighter above them started to pull out of the tendrils’s mists to join up with the shuttle.

      
The captain keyed the intercom and said, “All sections to battle stations.
 
Prepare to employ the EMP.
 
Marines, to your boarding stations.”

      
There was only a small amount of movement as most of the crew had been at or near their battle stations for two hours.
 
Everyone was anticipating this action.

      
Chief Watson reported, “Sir, the Marines and all sections report ready.”

      
The captain said, “Helm, take us out and in pursuit of the fighter.
 
Weapons, prepare to fire the EMP on my order, and heat up the guns.
 
We’re about to need them.
 
Don’t fire on the shuttle, but everything else is fair game.”

      
“Kelly, if the EMP doesn’t work, lock on, and kill this guy.”

      
Kelly switched his monitor to weapons control and sat ready.

      
The Vigilant jumped out of the cloud, directly under the emerging fighter.
 
The Vigilant turned upwards and aimed squarely at the center of the fighter’s belly.

      
The captain keyed the intercom, “EMP device, stand by.”

      
The Vigilant quickly closed the distance.

      
“Weapons, fire the EMP.”

      
There was no light or sound, but the fighter above them lost engine power and stability.
 
It started to tumble.
 
The turret gunners targeted the missile bays and guns.
 
The Vigilant shot through the exploding ball of fire and debris that previously had been the fighter.

      
The shuttle reacted to the fighter’s demise by kicking into high speed and making a beeline toward the FTL ship.
 
It would not get there in time.
 
With the fighter gone, there was nothing in range that could come to their aid in time.
 
The captain ordered the helm to pursue, and the distance closed in seconds.

      
The EMP pulsed again and the shuttle lost propulsion and stability.
 
The helm closed in on the shuttle, locked it in place with the tractor beam, and turned to align the assault pod with the port side of the shuttle.
 
The dorsal weapons pod hatch opened and the pod’s docking collar extended, preparing to attach to the side of the shuttle.

      
A slight shock was felt as the docking collar contacted the shuttle.
 
The captain had the tractor beam hold the shuttle in place to keep it from tumbling away.
 
Kelly switched his monitor to LT Chen’s helmet cam feed.

      
As in the training simulation, the white circle flared and a section of bulkhead fell into the shuttle.
 
Two marines with stun guns rushed into the cabin, followed by LT Chen and the rest of the assault squad.
 
The two K’Rang occupants hit the deck immediately and were quickly bound, gagged and transported out the hole into the docking collar.

      
The two scout ships had turned to try and come to the aid of the shuttle, but they would be too late.
 
At max burn they would find only empty space when they got here.
 
The captain keyed his intercom and said, “LT Chen, place your charges, but don’t set the timers yet.”

      
“Kelly, how long for the scouts to get here, exact as you can get, please?”

      
Kelly punched a few keys on his console and answered, “Sir, they will be here in two minutes and 28 seconds.”

      
The captain keyed his mike again, “LT Chen, set your timers for two minutes 30 seconds from now.
 
Let’s get moving.
 
We’ve got company coming.
 
Sensors, is there any movement from the FTL ship back there?”

      
“Not a bit, Captain.
 
They are just sitting there.
 
Their comms are active though.”

      
LT Chen came up on the intercom, “Captain, all charges set.
 
We’re all back in the collar.
 
We’re closed up and ready to separate on your command, sir.
 
All personnel accounted for with no casualties.”

      
“LT Chen, separate now.
 
Get your Marines and our guests back inside.”

      
“Helm, get us back across the frontier, full speed ahead.
 
Close up the weapons bay hatch.
 
Let’s go home.
 
Kelly, go check on our guests.”

      
Kelly went aft to the makeshift brig in the port stores locker.
 
Three Marines each carried the two unconscious and bound K’Rang into the cells.
 
They didn’t know which was the courier, so they put one in the big cell and one in the smaller cell, for sorting out later.
 
They stripped the two down to their fur and scanned them for any hidden or internal devices.

Each K’Rang had a small blade in a surgically emplaced pouch on their hips.
 
The corpsmen removed these with ease.
 
One K’Rang had a small electronic device in his ear.
 
This was also removed and sent to Sensors for analysis.
 
Small pins were found bound into their fur.
 
A small pair of scissors removed these.
 
Their clothes were searched and two weapons were found, along with a small data crystal and a small electronic device.
 
All the devices were scanned for explosives, found to be clear, and sent to Sensors.
 
When the search was completed, the K’Rang were dressed in extra large hospital pajamas, untied, and left guarded in their cells.

* * * * *

      
The two K’Rang scout ships arrived simultaneously at the site of the tumbling, lifeless shuttle craft.
 
Five seconds later it exploded in a large fireball, consuming all three ships.
 
The courier ship’s debris intermingled with that of the scouts ships.
 

* * * * *

Kelly rejoined the bridge crew and reported that their guests were in their quarters and resting.
 
Chief B came up behind him with a small electronic device in her hand.

“Captain, this should make it easier for us to cross the frontier.”

“What is it, Chief B?”

“Captain, this is what the K’Rang used to cross through the frontier unmolested.
 
I think it turns off the mines.
 
Want to try it?”

“Well, we’re almost there and going through anyway.
 
It can’t hurt.
 
Sound collision.
 
Here we go.
 
Punch it, Chief.”

“Chief B punched the white button on the device as the Vigilant passed through the frontier.
 
One mine that had activated and oriented on the Vigilant returned to its normal position.
 
They were through.

The captain said, “That wasn’t so bad.
 
Put us on course for Antares.
 
Maintain full speed.
 
Chief B, would you link into comms through Refugio and send the success code?”

      
“Aye aye, sir.”

      
The Manchu Warrior continued on, showing no reaction to the activity across the frontier.

* * * * *

Ten days later they were back at Antares Station.
 
Surprisingly, their passengers had survived the journey.
 
It required restraints and occasional intervention by the three corpsmen, but they made it.

The Vigilant was directed to a remote docking station in the back corner of the station.
 
The Marines, heavily armed and in full body armor, escorted the K’Rang Shadow Warriors to the station’s special holding facility.
 
Their interrogations would begin shortly.

1LT Chen was packing when Kelly came into his quarters.

She looked up at Kelly as he came in, smiled and said, “Sir, I know this may be out of line, but I really enjoyed working with you and sharing your cabin.
 
You were always a complete gentleman.
 
I only hope that there may come a time when we could meet under less formal circumstances.
 
Perhaps I could buy you a drink someday.”

Kelly smiled, “I’d like that too, Mary.
 
You know we are actually the same rank.
 
Why don’t you call me Kelly from now on.”

“All right, Kelly, I’ll do that in private for now, but wait until I’m no longer attached to the Vigilant before I do that in public.
 
We must observe the protocols.
 
Here is something else I’ll do in private.”

She moved up against him and gave him a slow, soft kiss.

“Sorry, Kelly, but I’ve wanted to do that since I first saw you at the Marine Special Ops Academy.

Kelly straightened his uniform, although it wasn’t wrinkled, and said, “Thank you, Mary, it was my pleasure.
 
If you're all packed, let me help you with your gear.”

* * * * *

Captain Hasselrode came onboard to escort Kelly and Timmons to the admiral in his station office.
 
They were told to bring all the items taken from the K’Rang.
 
They made their way to the familiar cypher door, went through Admiral Craddock’s outer office, knocked, and were told to enter.
 
The admiral was at his terminal sending a message.

When he sent the message, he looked up and a broad smile came on his face.
 
“Ed, Kelly, I’m glad you made it back safely.
 
I just sent the identifying data on our guests to Fleet Intel.
 
We might know who they are by morning.”

“Sit down, sit down.
 
Make yourselves comfortable.
 
I'm so proud of you two.
 
You're making quite a name for yourselves and the Vigilant.
 
Ed, I’ll need any recommendations for awards from you by the morning.”