Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane (55 page)

The funny thing was, the Gashg didn't care for the sweet jelly.
It was good on crackers or toast, but Takagi didn't like that it turned his
tongue purple. The Gashg had tripped over the export, or so he had heard. They
liked the bitter rind. They would grind it up and use it as some sort of spice.
He'd tried some of the coconut liquor mixed with ground up rind, the bitter had
balanced out the sweet, but it had had a gritty feel to it and an aftertaste.
Good for mouthwash maybe.

“So...”

“So for now, leave em. I'll check with Cookie. I think he's
freezing pies and stuff now. I'm not sure if he's got the room for jelly too.”

“Okay.”

“And for goddess sake, keep the yahoos out. Do a count of the
pods. I want the number. I'll check to make certain no one gets in and has
fun.”

Yuri's face fell. Takagi hid a snort of satisfaction. “Yes sir.”

“Good man.” Takagi cocked his head as they left the compartment.
“But... when we do breach them, remind me to be there with my saki glasses.”

Yuri turned to stare at him. Takagi smiled, put a finger along
his nose and winked. Yuri blinked and then slowly smiled. “Aye aye sir,” he
said more chipper. “If you don't mind me helping out with the taste testing,”
he said.

“Of course you can help! We always need a second opinion!” The
cargo master laughed as he clapped the other man on the shoulder.

<----*----*----*---->

Ian frowned as he studied the reports. He really had nothing to
complain about, their people were pulling out all the stops to not only get
everything done, but also to train. Doctor Glenn had been forced to order bed
rest for some. A few had welcomed the hard work; it served as a great
distraction and kept them busy. Exhaustion was a great way to sleep without
nightmares too.

The AI had organized more formal classes now that the work was
slowing down. Oh, there was of course always something to do, but they were
pretty much finished with Bounty and the two corvettes. And short of building
another warship, they were done with the others as well. Things were settling
down to regular routine maintenance in engineering. He hadn't heard a peep or
complaint from Sindri in days.

“Bored?” Sindri grumbled, knocking on the open hatch.

“Come in, you're out,” Ian said good-naturedly before he looked
up. He waved the tablet. “No, just going over everything. We're fully fueled
and stocked up. How is engineering?”

“Purring like a kitten. I meant I'm bored,” Sindri replied with
an earthy chuckle.

“Well, can't have that,” Ian replied with a small smile. Sindri's
face fell. “Have you been drilling everyone?”

“Aye,” Sindri replied warily.

“Well, then, I think we should have a battle sim. The Admiral's
got a few for us to work on. And oh, cross training now that I think of it,” he
said.

Sindri grumbled, stroking his beard. “Me and my big mouth,” he
muttered.

“Yes?”

“Nothing,” the engineer grumbled.

<----*----*----*---->

Irons hit upon the idea to use excess material to make missiles.
Destroyers were short ranged ships, and an Arboth was a specialist of the short
ranged mindset. Irons preferred mass and a balanced approach. But in a
situation like this firing from range and hammering a ship from multiple angles
was preferred. Letting them get in close was just asking to get killed.

When they had taken the ship the magazines had been half full.
Two of the missiles had been hold overs from the Federation, the rest had
apparently been Horathian built. Now all the magazines were filled with proper
Federation standard missiles once more. Missiles with the maximum range,
pen-aides, and warheads he could come up with. D-239 missiles, the best for tin
cans.

The tin can also lacked proper defenses in his opinion. The crew
had made strides in correcting that, grafting in newly constructed point
defense emitters onto the hull in strategic places, and then running the EPS
lines and control lines to them when the ship had been rebuilt. But that still
left their lack of munitions space and long-range firepower.

Irons solved that by making disposable missile packs. Each
missile pack would be attached to the hull by explosive clamps. Each had six
cells of missiles. The missiles were a mix, some packs were for long range
fighting and some held counter missiles for defense. A few were stuffed with
his toys.

“It seems you have no problem opening up your box of toys,”
Sprite said. “At this rate we could build another warship.”

“No time,” the Admiral replied absently.

Sprite paused.”Don't tell me you already considered it!” she said
in exasperation. She stared at him. He ignored the look and kept working.

“I did briefly,” he finally answered a few moments later. “But
again, we lack the time and crew. But I did think of something else.”

“Oh?”

“A munitions ship.”

“A... munitions ship?”

“Yes. The pirate collier. Lassie. They'll expect it back. We'll
stuff it full of gifts we can... hand out when it becomes time to do so,” he
said slyly.

“Oh you, you are a wicked devil when you want to be!” Sprite said
grinning. Irons chuckled as he worked.

“I don't like it. It is a big fleet,” Sindri growled.

The Admiral grimaced. He'd assembled the staff once the missiles
were completed. Once they were ready, he had secured the room and then shared
Sprite's data on the enemy fleet with the staff. He had expected that response,
any sane person would think twice about the force differential. They were
insanely outgunned and out manned. The tonnage difference alone would have
anyone else sweating bullets. Of course they didn't quite understand what he
had in mind.

They had confirmed three known cruisers, one of each major class.
A Garth class light cruiser, a venerable but still apparently useable Arrow
class heavy cruiser/ escort carrier, and the flagship, the Queen Adrienne, a
Newmann class Battlecruiser. There were at least four destroyers backing them
up. An Antelope fast attack destroyer was confirmed, as were at least four Manta
class frigates and six corvettes. There were an indeterminate number of
gunships and fighters as well as an ever-changing number of ships in the fleet
train. And that didn't include any reinforcements they might have picked up.

“Based on the intelligence we have, the numbers keep going up, a
clear sign of a classic force build up. They have received several ships from
B103c5 since they arrived in Beta 101a1. Also fleet resupply convoys. Most
likely the resupply is coming from stripping the nearby newly conquered systems
of New Haven and Konohagakure. Our current estimates are tentative and likely
to go up.”

“What are they waiting for?” Ian asked. “I mean, why don't they
just attack?”

“It could be that he wishes to train each of the ships together as
a group,” the Admiral replied.

Sprite shook her head. “Orders. The Admiral in charge, a Rear
Admiral Javier Rico, is a by the book guy, unlike Cartwright. He isn't
comfortable going out too far on a limb, and apparently risking his task force
against an unknown is too much for him.”

“He likes easy prey. Where they don't fight back,” Sindri growled
grimly. “He's used to it.”

“Pirates tend to do so,” the AI replied dryly. “All predators do.”

The Admiral drummed his fingers on the table loud enough to get
everyone's attention. “So does the navy. You always want to not fight fair. Why
let the enemy shoot back and get your people killed?” Irons asked. The officers
stared at him. He shrugged. “Think about it people. It's part of war.”

“I don't know what's going on. I'm guessing something is up.
Either he's waiting for a signal, or command authority, or... I don't know.”

“Could he be coordinating this attack with Cartwright?”

“I'm finding that hard to believe. In order to do so they'd have
to send ships up chain to wherever Cartwright's forces are, and then have some
sort of timetable? We'd see ships going back and forth through the system,”
Irons said. “We haven't seen that.”

“That might be what they had Phoenix in mind for actually,” Sindri
said thoughtfully.

The Admiral nodded. “True. Which means he might be waiting on us.
Or something else. Unfortunately, the corvette had the updated orders, and it's
a nebula.”

“Right. We don't know.”

“And, that's what worries some,” Sprite said. “The not knowing
part. But part of being an officer is learning to use what you've got. Go with
what you know at the time, and accept what happens.”

“Yeah well, we'll see. Right now we've got some ships to fix up.
And some training to do.”

<----*----*----*---->

The Admiral outlined his plan and contingency plans. Part of that
plan was for Phoenix to go in first to draw the pirates off and into a trap of
their own making. The rest relied heavily on Nata'roka and luck.

“You've had this
in
mind the entire time.”

“Yes. I want to do a spoiler raid. Get in as close as we can, then
show our true colors as we blast as many as we can into wreckage, then run like
hell for the Pyrax jump point. Jump for Pyrax, then turn around on exit and
rally Firefly and the ships there to our aid.”

“Hit them as they come out on exit,” Ian replied, nodding.
“Damaged, out of order and confused.”

“Yes.”

“I like it. Could work. If it does, we can come back and relieve Hidoshi's
World and Captain Hoshi.”

“That too.”

<----*----*----*---->

Irons trained Lieutenant Peters and his collier crew on the duty
he needed them to perform for his plan to work. Engineering crews from all the
ships worked overtime to outfit the collier ship with some milspec hardware and
overhaul its systems like all the other ships.

They modified the ship for its intended role, cutting open her
hull and then adding doors for quick release of the packs. Once that was
finished they cut holes for point defense laser clusters to give the ship some
defenses. She was outfitted with the additional lidar and radar arrays along
with a full battlecruiser's fire control system. But the crew knew she was
still a paper tiger. The Admiral's heart swelled with pride when all of them
volunteered for the mission.

<----*----*----*---->

Dita, Meia, and Ezri trained until exhaustion in the Cobras and
in the simulators. Sometimes Dita could barely keep her head up as they ate in
the mess. Holly was concerned but the red head just gave her a wan smile and
waved that she was okay.

“They are tired,” Holly said to Marty. She was concerned.
Everyone was tired and overworked. She was surprised no one had broken by now.

“Who isn't?” he asked. “I can barely lift my fork. We're all
working to get this done. Working our tails off.”

“Why?” Holly replied, face working as she fought the urge to cry.

“So we can make sure this doesn't happen again,” Marty said. “To
us or to others. It's the least we can do,” he said, hugging her shoulders and
kissing her hair. She shook a bit but then hugged him back.

<----*----*----*---->

Admiral Irons sent T12783 the second collier, Deianira, and the
tanker off with a marine team under Lieutenant Lewis to do what they could to
liberate Hidoshi's World. They would remain there until he got word back to
them. They would have a short platoon, little more than thirty Marines to do
the job. Hopefully they would pick up some help from the natives.

They would also be short on air power, though the ships would
hold the high ground. He was sending along an armed Skyhawk with them.
Unfortunately they didn't have a Warhawk to send. They would have to make due,
capture or destroy the enemy shuttles in the initial attack and then keep the
high ground. At least they had a squad of powered armor to use, three squadrons
of mech, another four squadrons of drones of various makes, and all the marines
had front line equipment. Hopefully they would train with the drones enough to
use them to the best of their abilities when they arrived on planet. They
certainly had enough motivation to do so, since they would be outnumbered on
the ground and in the air.

Worrying about the Marines didn't bother him, it was part of
being in command. What did bother him were the disposition of the civilians and
Captain Hoshi's plan. It seemed reckless. Even more reckless than his own plan.

“Are you sure about this Captain?” the Admiral asked Captain
Hoshi. Hoshi had insisted on taking her ship on her own journey. She didn't
want to be trapped in Hidoshi.

“As I ever will be. We'll head North up chain to Beta 99 and then
over to Richalu to warn them. I've got some people I know there. Friends. I
don't want what happened to us, to Hidoshi's World, to happen to them,” she
said, looking away from the camera.

The Admiral studied the woman before he nodded slowly. He was
fairly certain she wanted to get out of the line of fire. He couldn't blame
her. “There is no guarantee it's safe there Captain.”

She laughed bitterly. “There are no guarantees in life at all Admiral,”
she replied with a shrug. “We'll do our best. If we can run, we will. At least
we'll get the word out.”

“All right,” the Admiral said nodding. “I suggest if the pirates
do show you get your people down and hide. Blow the ship.”

“Definitely,” Hoshi replied grimly. “One dose of Horathian hospitality
is enough for a lifetime,” she said. The Admiral nodded.

“Good luck sir,” she said quietly. She straightened and saluted.
The Admiral felt a flicker of surprise run through him. Still, he nodded and
then returned the salute.

“And to you too ma'am. Good luck and safe sailing,” he said. “May
the spirits of space be with you.”

“And to you too Admiral,” she replied as she closed the circuit.

<----*----*----*---->

Once the last ship had left the system he set his plan in motion.

When he judged they were ready to depart they formed up on the Beta
101a1 jump point. They would do a lot of training and additional repairs while
in transit, but for now, he had something to tell them.

The Admiral ordered a day of rest for all the ships. They had
been working almost nonstop for over ten weeks. Many of the personnel were glad
for the break, but some were confused and annoyed by the mandatory downtime.
Near the end of the day shift a few fights broke out.

The next morning the naval ships docked together in a daisy
chain. The Admiral had the crew from all the ships assemble in the cleared boat
bay on Bounty. Officer and enlisted alike reported for duty in full formal
uniform. They griped over the requirement, questioned its importance, but many
smiled when they noted what they and their fellows looked like.

“It almost looks like we know what we're doing! Like we actually
belong in these uniforms!”  Sindri joked.

“That's because we do. But we've still got a long time before
we'll ever be comfortable in them,” Ian said. He stood at parade rest as the
steward went through the row of officers; inspecting each and helping them
adjust or correct issues.

When both officers and enlisted alike were ready they fell into
the boat bay. The podium and flags were set up once more. “This isn't going to
be another blinding speech is it?” Sindri asked. “I don't have any sunshades
handy,” he said.

“No,” Sprite replied from the overhead. “And it's nice to see you
Commander,” she said.

“And you ma'am,” Sindri replied with a polite nod as he looked
up. Sprite took the hint and appeared on her holo projector near the podium.

“There, this better?” she asked, smiling. He smiled back in
appreciation. That simple gesture made her feel on top of the world.

When the noncom lecterns had them organized neatly in rows the Admiral
signaled he was ready. “Atten hut!” the bosun called, getting their attention.
Together almost as one the group snapped to.

The Admiral marched through the rows and then came to the podium.
He saluted the colors. “Crew salute!” the bosun said in a deep voice. The crew
snapped crisp salutes to the flag, waiting for the anthem to end.

When the refrain faded the assembly struck their salute. The Admiral
turned smartly. “I'm going to make this short and sweet,” he said, hands behind
his back. He surveyed the group. They looked nervous, excited, bored. He
recognized all the faces, even a little fear. He accepted it.

“Tomorrow, we jump for Beta 101a1 and destiny. I don't say that
lightly, there is a good chance some of us won't survive. Accept that. The
enemy out numbers us... and out guns us. But we have something they do not. We
are the Federation Navy. We are the shield wall that protects the civilians
from enemies. We are the best and we're damn well going to prove it,” he growled.

There was a slight shuffle. He ignored it, just looking at them.
“Civilians will never understand us. We're different. We're the ones who stand
and fight when no one else will. We accept orders, and we get the job done.”

“We took an oath. Many of you took that oath right here in this
compartment. An oath to support and defend the constitution. To protect our
citizens. You've seen what the alternative is.” His eyes roved the crowd,
occasionally stopping on someone who he knew. Ian gave him a slight nod of
approval. The Admiral turned, looking on.

“War is an ugly thing. I have experienced it firsthand. It is the
last thing anyone sane ever wants. It is death and destruction. It is pain and
suffering. It is waste and loss. Those of you in this compartment and listening
know this, you've suffered enough. You've experienced it first hand and it has
burned you. It has burned the impurities off you until your core was exposed, a
core of diamond that will. Not. Yield.” He thundered. The crew still didn't
make a sound.

“The Horathian's don't understand that. They can't, they've been
predators, picking off those who can't fight back. The weak, the helpless.
Those that can't fight back. They think it is all easy, that this is the way
things
should
be. They wish to replace reality with their own warped and
twisted version of what they think things should be.”

“And that ladies and gentlemen, is where we come in. We're going
to prove them wrong. We're going to
hammer
them,” he growled, voice
deepening and becoming richer, fuller. Sprite smiled internally in approval.
“We're going to stop them and show them what true war costs. Their pretty
fleet? It's going to be
cinders
when we are done.”