The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict (32 page)

Lopeq’la said, “What then?

The weapons officer pointed at one of the two actual buttons on the console and said, “Basically, when this button turns orange I press it.”

Lopeq’la thought that he knew the answer, but he asked the question anyway just to be sure.  He asked, “If you don’t mind a dumb question, why do you have to press the button?  Why not just have the computer automatically fire?”

Floop’la was now standing beside him and answered the question before the weapons officer could.  He replied, “Per the Alliance - Hiriculan treaty, ion cannons are prohibited from automatically firing.  The treaty clearly states that an actual, living being is required to activate any large scale weapon such as an ion cannon.”

The weapons officer clarified, “The only exception is an automated defense system.  However, those must give adequate warning before firing and cannot be used offensively.”

The chronometer showed that the
Sunflower
was due to arrive in 30 seconds.  The button turned orange.  The weapons officer pressed it.  The ion cannon fired.

They were situated 9 million kilometers (5.6 million miles) from where the
Sunflower
was supposed to exit.  At this range, it would take light exactly 30 seconds to reach the enemy ship.  Then, it would take another 30 seconds for the return light to register the damage.

Lopeq’la waited for what seemed to be one of the longest minutes of his life.  Finally, a minute passed and they had a clear scan.  The communications officer reported, “We missed.  However, the gravity missiles exploded and the enemy ship is trapped in the system.”

Lopeq’la said, “Computer, please record the following message.  Captain Solear, you and the entire crew of the
Sunflower
are in violation of the treaty and are under arrest for gross misconduct during the battle of Influenla.  Please surrender immediately or you will be destroyed.”

The communication officer sent the message to enemy cruiser.  Lopeq’la knew that he had at least a minute to wait, maybe two or three.  However, he quickly discovered that he didn’t need to wait that long to receive an answer.

The navigator said, “The enemy is launching fighters.”  He paused and continued, “They are launching far more than they should.  They have already launched 24 and the total is still increasing.”

Lopeq’la said, “Please put the camera and scan data on the main monitor.”

He continued watching as more and more fighters launched.  He couldn’t understand how a tiny cruiser was capable of holding and launching nearly 60 fighters.  Further, he couldn’t believe the how quickly the
Sunflower
was able to launch the fighters.  It seemed impossible.

Lopeq’la realized that the fighters were spreading out evenly and attacking all 4 cruisers at the same time.  He shook his head.  Clearly, the enemy captain had just made a mistake.  He should have focused all of the fighters on one of them and tried to create an opening in the blockade to escape through.  Spreading his resources out like that would just lead to a protracted battle that the misdirected captain would soon lose.

He watched in horror a couple of minutes later as one, then two, then all four of their cruisers exploded.  He couldn’t fathom how quickly and effectively the enemy fighters had penetrated their cruiser’s defenses.  They had made destroying a cruiser look easy.  He understood on a rational level that a cruiser was no match for a squadron of fighters, but watching it happen so rapidly was shocking. 

Plus, the
Sunflower
was firing missiles at an unbelievable pace – roughly 70 missiles every 3 minutes.  That rate was 2 ½ times higher than a battleship.  He didn’t think that rate of fire was possible.  He was now starting to realize why the Hiriculan Navy had lost three straight battles against this particular ship.

The communications officer announced, “All four cruisers have been destroyed.  It does not appear that the enemy lost a single fighter.”

Their four cruisers didn’t even launch a single fighter in response.  However, at least the cruisers managed to fire a round of missiles at the
Sunflower
.  Plus, each destroyer fired a volley of missiles.  He whispered, “They may have hurt us badly, but at least they won’t survive our 72 missile counter-strike.” 

The communications officer reported, “The scan area is now mostly obscured by the dust clouds created by the exploding ships.  Sensor data may be unreliable for the next few minutes.”

Lopeq’la looked at the overhead monitor.  It basically just showed dust.  He responded, “Can the scanners pick up anything?”

“Yes, the enemy cruiser is on a collision course for one of the destroyers.”

Lopeq’la realized that he had essentially doomed the cruisers by flooding the area with gravity missiles.  He responded, “Tell both destroyers to get clear of the gravity field.  They need to be able to jump to safety if they get overwhelmed by enemy fighters.”

Communications officer: “We have a clearer picture of the battle now.  Both destroyers are moving out of the gravity field.”

Lopeq’la was happy that the communications officer stated the ship movement positively because their conversation was being recorded.  He could have said ‘retreating’ or ‘fleeing’.

Communications officer: “Both destroyers have launched all 24 fighters and they are moving to intercept the enemy fighters.  The
Sunflower
has increased speed and is still pursuing the destroyer
Restitution
. 

Floop’la joined Lopeq’la and they studied the plot together.  The fighters would more than likely trade one for one with the enemy fighters, meaning that both destroyers would be able to get clear of the gravity field long before the third squadron of enemy fighters could reach them.

He continued watching the monitor.  He expected a protracted fighter battle, but it seemed to be over in a few seconds.  There was too much debris and interference in the area for him to determine who won with any degree of accuracy.

He said, “Is there any update on our missile volley.  The enemy cruiser should have been destroyed by now.”

The weapons officer responded, “None of the missiles reported scoring a hit.”

The communications officer updated, “The
Sunflower
shows no signs of damage.  It is safe to assume that all missiles somehow missed.”

He watched as the enemy cruiser made a slight course correction and fired its ion cannon.  The shot clearly hit the destroyer because the ion cannon light was suddenly deflected.  However, it was impossible to assess the severity of the damage because both destroyers micro jumped to the rendezvous point.

Lopeq’la said, “How long until the destroyers return to real space and the light reaches us?”

The navigator replied, “Six minutes.”

The crew waited six minutes in relative silence.  Lopeq’la thought that this wait was six times worse than the previous 1 minute wait that he had had to endure a few minutes earlier.  Finally the time passed and they received the light from the destroyers’ reentry to real space.

They watched the first destroyer exit.  Then the second destroyer exited as pure antimatter and annihilated the first destroyer.  It was horrific to watch.  Somehow, watching one ship literally eat another was somehow worse than watching the 4 cruisers explode.

The bridge crew observed an unannounced moment of silence.  Stunned silence.

The weapons officer broke the reverie.  She said, “I have thoroughly analyzed the enemy’s shot.”

Lopeq’la said, “Continue.”

She said, “The destroyer
Restitution
, the one the
Sunflower
was chasing, was making random maneuvers.  It could not have been hit by an ion cannon strike unless the enemy ship was at point blank range.  The second destroyer, the
Avenger
, was not making any random maneuvers.  It was traveling at a steady course and speed.”

She paused for understanding, then continued, “The enemy cruiser made a last second course change and aimed their ion cannon at the
Avenger
.  Then, they fired at the exact moment the destroyer was transitioning into hyperspace.”

She paused again and repeated, “They intentionally, purposefully fired an ion cannon at a ship transitioning into hyperspace.  They knew that the
Avenger
would be converted into antimatter and destroy the
Restitution
when it exited.”

Lopeq’la said, “The timing of the shot is unbelievable.  I didn’t think that anyone could fire an ion cannon that accurately.” 

Floop’la said, “I have heard that having your body converted into antimatter is one of the most painful ways to die.”

Lopeq’la responded, “Yes.  Being dematerialized is far more painful than being atomized or vaporized.”

The navigation officer reported, “The enemy cruiser has exited the dust clouds.  They are heading this way.  They will be here in 5 minutes.”

Floop’la requested verification, “Are they headed toward us or toward the jump point.”

Navigator: “Toward the jump point.  However, they have been known to make course changes.”

Lopeq’la waved Floop’la near him and activated a privacy field around him.  Floop’la spoked first, “We are in a bit of bind it appears.”

Lopeq’la waved for him to continue.  Floop’la didn’t, so he replied, “Please continue with your analysis.”

Floop’la: “Well, if we fight, we die, so that isn’t an option.  We can’t match their missile rate and they outnumber us a bit in fighters.”

Lopeq’la thought that 58 to 0 was more than a bit.  He replied, “Agreed.  Fighting is a poor strategy.”

Floop’la: “If we jump to safety, they cannot catch us.  We can easily make it back to Hiricula.

Lopeq’la: “And report that our entire fleet was completely outclassed by a single cruiser.  Our military careers will be over and we will be demoted to ‘pe-ons.”

Floop’la: “I don’t want to be the butt of jokes.”

Lopeq’la: “Or the trivia question – who was responsible for the worst military defeat in history?”

Floop’la: “If we surrender, then we will be taken prisoner, then ransomed, then sent back to Hiricula.  Then we will be demoted to ‘pe-ons.  The only difference is that we get to experience the joy interrogation first.”

Lopeq’la said, “I just thought of way out of this mess.”  Tell everyone to come to the bridge for an important announcement.”

Floop’la exited the privacy field.  Lopeq’la said, “Computer, record the following message and encrypt it using maximum security.”

…Proceed when ready… 

Floop’la: “Esteemed beings of High Council, I am pleased to report that the object was safely placed in the correct location.  I then faithfully executed my secret orders to intentionally lose the battle so that we could request political asylum.  We will soon be in place on Solaria and awaiting further orders.  Please honor the crew members on the 6 ships that unwittingly sacrificed their lives so that the plan could succeed.  They are true heroes.  In earnest service, Admiral Lopeq’la.”

Lopeq’la told the computer to research the treaty and show the relevant section on his communication pad.  He lowered the privacy field and looked at the communications officer.  When he got her attention, he said, “Send the encrypted message to the High Council and then delete it.  After that, hail the enemy cruiser.”

Communications: “Message has been sent.  Connection with the enemy ship has been established.”

Lopeq’la sat down in the captain’s chair, raised the privacy field again, and said, “Captain Solear, this is Admiral Lopeq’la.  Per section 21.5.13, sub-paragraph 11 of the Alliance – Hiricula treaty, this ship and its crewmembers formally request political asylum.  In return for this battleship and whatever information we can legally provide, we ask that we are allowed to settle on Solaria.”

Lopeq’la then signaled for the communications officer to close the link.  He had almost added the phrase and ‘live our lives in peace’, but stopped at the last minute.  He really didn’t know why, he just thought it sounded redundant or perhaps insincere.

Everyone on board gathered on the bridge.  It was rather crowded, but all 30 beings fit without too much issue.  Lopeq’la stood on the captain’s chair so that he could scan the crowd.  He could see their expressions were a mixture of anger for having lost the battle and fear of what was to come next.

Lopeq’la raised his voice and said, “Fellow Hiriculans, we were recruited for not one, but two secret missions.  Unfortunately, our real mission was not to bring the
Sunflower
to justice.  It was to create a believable scenario whereby the Alliance would allow us to live on Solaria.  We will pretend to settle into normal lives while we wait for our next set of orders.”

Lopeq’la paused for a moment to let the crew process the information.  He then asked, “Are there any questions?”

There were none.  Perhaps the crew still needed more time to think.  However, he could see dawning realization on many of their faces.  The reason for the loss now made sense. It was easier for them to believe that the only reason the enemy cruiser had won was because they had let them win.