Read Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion Online

Authors: T. S. Paul

Tags: #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Colonization, #Military, #Space Fleet, #Space Opera, #Teen & Young Adult

Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion (6 page)

BOOK: Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion
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“Anti-matter? That is scarily awesome! How are they storing the charged positrons and antiprotons? If any of those come into contact with matter the explosion would..”

 

She started laughing as I began to get technical. Waving her hands for me to stop talking she stopped laughing. “My sister the Engineer! We are using a special Penning trap that has been outfitted with extra strong electromagnets so that the repelling force does not overtake the walls of the container.”

 

I ran what she said through my head. It sounded right but, I made a mental note to double check their numbers and see this improved ‘trap’ for myself. An anti-matter explosion could turn the University into a lake.

 

“Something else that we talked about is using special freighters as mine-layers. I realize that the idea of that is as old as time. The mines, however are something old with a new twist. The ships will release thousands of the mines, which are tiny in comparison to the standard ones. These are about the size of a small melon. They are stealth and have tiny fusion drives. We used the ones you modified for the droids you built. Don’t worry you will still be paid for those.” She smiled and laughed at the look on my face. I really like this version of my sister.

 

“As I was saying,” she grinned at me. “The mines will stick to any passing ship or fighter. If the IFF shows it to be one of ours they will not stick. We choose the programming, they can be on a timer, activate on a timer, or have special programming. The special option is really cool. We can allow a passing ship to pick up a few. When it returns to its home base the mines will release then hook up an explode on another passing ship or station.”

 

“Excuse me, Ma’am?” We both looked up at the new voice. Min’s XO was trying to get her attention.

 

“Go ahead George, what’s up?”

 

“We are receiving a message from the Imperial fleet.”

 

“Great, OK, put it on the screen.” We both moved over to the center of the room.

 

The screen lit up to show the command deck of an older model battle cruiser. A large bear of a man stood in the center of the deck in a pristine looking Commodore’s uniform. This must be Commodore Vakulinchuk.

 

“With whom am I speaking so I know who to shoot at the trial? How dare you destroy shuttles belonging to the Empire of Humanity! You were ordered to stand your military down and surrender your leaders for trial! My orders come straight from the Imperial Senate. Now, your actions will cause you problems. You have one hour to stand down your military and surrender or I will be forced to destroy you. Vakulinchuk, out.”

 

“Shoot at the trial? The nerve of that man!” Min just shook her head. “I don’t know how you put up with arrogant asshole’s like that commander all the time, Athena.”

 

“Most of the officers that I work with are perfect gentlemen.”

 

“Or they are scared of that big Marine you call a girlfriend.” I had to give her that. Dar was a big girl.and a very tough looking Marine. She was a big teddy bear in private.

 

Calling out in a loud voice, Min addressed the room. “May I have everyone’s attention?”

 

The command staff stopped what they were doing and turned in her direction.

 

“Thank you. There is NO way that we will allow these People to destroy everything that we have built here! I want everything that we have in the air and ready when this ‘ultimatum’ is up! Everything we’ve got people! Understood?” The whole staff were nodding their heads. “Good! Lets get to work!”

 

“Lieutenant Amynta, are you in contact with the visiting warships?” The intelligence officer nodded her head, grabbed her tablet and pulled up a list. “Check and see if any of them are interested in helping us defend the planet.”

 

We both stared at the battle map for a minute. With the additional ships we might be able to win this one. After giving everyone half an hour to sort themselves out, Min checked here tablet and then called her XO, Commander George over.

 

“What is our status?”

 

He double checked his tablet, “we have three squadrons of fighters ready to go. The Black Sheep are over near the shipyards out of sight, but ready. The two freighters have been deployed. Alpha is ready to start laying mines and Beta is in a guard position. When ordered Beta is ready to ‘roll pods.’ The visiting warships, those that are here for the conference, say that they will help to defend the planet from orbital bombardment, but wish to stay out of it, if possible. Station defenses are manned and ready for your orders. The James Cook is on a ballistic course around the Sun and will arrive here in less than two hours. The Paney is armed and ready, we have towed it to a defensive position on our flank. The enemy may think it is a derelict and ignore it. Per your orders we have armed all the shuttles with anti-ship missiles.”

 

“Good work George! We have about 20 minutes left, make sure every section is locked down. Check that everyone is in either suits or sealed into the shelters.”

 

I looked toward Min, she was in her element here. It was time for me to get back to Engineering. I tapped her on the arm to get her attention. “Min, I guess you don’t need me here after all. I am going to get back down to my section. We will need emergency crews.”

 

“OK, Athena, be careful down there. I just got you back in my life, I don’t want to lose you!”

 

“I’ll be careful, I promise. You watch yourself too. Call me if you need me.” I turned around and headed back to Engineering. This battle could get hairy and I would need to be there for my crews.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

 

“Sir, their deadline is almost up.” Commodore Vakulinchuk was deep in thought standing over his battle map console. He never thought that it would go this far. His rise in both the Navy and the Cabal was due to his skill in finding solutions to problems. This Task Force was an example of that. If this system was not so vital to the Cabal’s plans he would just follow his ‘real’ orders and take a hands off approach. Now he was going to have to kill a world. They needed the world, not the people on it. Hopefully, he was about to do the right thing. His career and life depended on it. He looked up and turned to Captain Van der Decken, “Sorry, I was deep in thought. What is our status?”

 

“Sir, all ships are at battle stations and on alert. At your orders the destroyers will form a battle line on our flanks. The frigates will slot in behind the fleet and cover our rear. The space tugs are ready. Several asteroids and medium to large meteorites have been located and are ready.” He paused and studied his commander. “Are you sure that orbital bombardment is the answer sir? No commander of the Fleet has done that since the last war.”

 

“Are you questioning my orders Captain?” The commodore’s voice began to rise to a growl.

 

“No, sir! Just providing a counterpoint opinion sir. As I was saying, our space fighters are prepped and armed. They will began the dance by taking out the stations defensive systems and command deck. Our records show that the sidewalls are weak on the flanks and the guns are antiques left over from the last war. We only have four armed shuttles left, sir, so we have them loaded with the remaining Marines and ESS troops. They intend to hit the shipyard during the battle.”

 

“Good idea Captain! Tell their commander to capture it intact if possible.” Grigory smiled, things were shaping up. This should be a textbook attack.

 

“Sir, may I ask a question?”

 

“Of course Captain Van der Decken, what would you like to know?” The commodore had a big smile on his face and was drumming his hands on the console in a nervous habit.

 

“Sir, have you been under fire before? What I am trying to ask, um, is this your first battle commanding?” The Captain cocked his head and mentally cringed. Please say no, please say no.

 

“Of course not. I have commanded several ship in the pursuit of pirates and a few smugglers. I hold the record in the Fleet for the most pirates brought to justice!”

 

Pirates? Those aren’t Fleet battles like this one was going to be! How in the hell did this man become a Commodore? “What about Fleet actions like this one, sir? Have you fought in any of them before?”

 

Commodore Vakulinchuk seemed to think a moment. “This is my first one, Captain. Why do you ask?”

 

Great! We are all going to die! Seeing the Commodore staring at him, he answered him. “I was asking if you had any advice on the upcoming battle, sir?”

 

Always happy to be looked up to by lesser officers than himself, Grigory smiled at his ship captain. “The only advice I have is to follow the orders that you are given, and all things will be right with the world. Now, lets get to work. I do believe that the deadline is up!”

 

“Communications! Get that bitch on my screen!” The commodore plopped down in the Captain’s command chair. Captain Van der Decken stopped short and stood behind his chair. Both men looked up at the main view screen. The screen came alive with the a view of a strange command deck.

 

“Hello Commodore have you decided to surrender to us? Those shuttles of yours turned tail and ran. Are you going to join them and run for it?”

 

Grigory felt his checks begin to burn with anger as words of mockery spewed from this Woman’s mouth! How dare she ridicule him! “How dare you! You are nothing but a harlot, standing there thinking you can push strong men around! I was going show you mercy but now?” Visibly angry, his hands were shaking he was so mad. He ignored the chain of command and began yelling at the bridge crew. “The Commodore has the bridge! Weapons begin the attack!”

 

“Commodore Vakulinchuk, Sir, this is my command! Sir, please.” Captain Van der Decken’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

 

Eventually hearing his captain’s pleas the commodore turned and looked the Captain in the eyes. “Do you have a problem Captain Van der Decken?” He said with a sneer.

 

“Sir, this is my command. Sir.”

 

“Still? I think not. Major Niers, take the former Captain Van der Decken into custody please. Hold him until after the battle. I will deal with him then.”

 

The large burly Marine Major was the Commodore’s personal protection today, he stepped forward and grabbed the captain’s arm. His voice was deep and gravelly, “Sir, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.” Behind him two other marines stepped forward.

 

“Major I am the Captain of this ship! You cannot do this!” Captain Van der Decken jerked his arm away from the large Marine.

 

“The hard way it is then.” The large Marine grabbed the Captain’s arms and kicked his legs out from under him. The captain dropped like a sack of flour to the deck. He lay there for a moment then three sets of hands grabbed him and yanked his arms behind him and he was cuffed. He began to struggle and kick as the Marines picked him up bodily and tossed him into the lift. The impact of his head on the bulkhead knocked him out, his body crumpling to the deck. The Marines laughed as they joined his broken body in the lift. Pressing the down button they headed for the hanger bay.

 

The horrified crew stared as their captain was literally tossed from the bridge. The now wild eyed Commodore was now in charge.

 

The Commodore swiveled ‘his’ chair around and addressed the bridge crew. “Battle stations! Eyes front! You have a battle to win. Message to all ships! Begin attack plan Alpha. Launch fighters!”

 

Afraid of it happening to them the now frightened bridge crew followed their orders and began the attack on the station and planet.

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

 

 

The look on her face said it all. Major Minerva Lee had a face that had turned to stone. This whole battle just became personal! Taunting the Imperial Commodore had been fun, but nobody called her a harlot and got away with it! The so called ‘commodore’ over there made a big mistake coming here. His inexperience was showing. A perfect example would be that call, he left his communicator on. Everyone here saw what happened to one of his own crew.

 

“Ma’am, they are launching fighters.”

 

Min stared at her battle map screens. “Launch the Valkyries, tell them to take out as many fighters as they can. They are not to attack the larger ships if they can avoid it.”

 

 

 

 

___

 

 

 

 

 

Down in the hangar bay the fighter wing’s crew cheered as the Silver Valkyrie squadron launched. The workers immediately got back to work, when those ships came back they would need rearming and possibly minor repairs. Everyone needed to be ready, they had a war to win.

 

The Silver Valkyrie squadron was made up of Sky Sharks. The Sky Shark was a former Pan Pacific League star fighter. It was fast, lightly armored, and death in the right hands. Commander Mulligan possessed those hands. Call sign ‘Skinny’ he had been the second in command under Minerva Lee. His squadron was made up of the best that the Hong Kong system had to offer. ‘Skinny’ had over 20 confirmed kills, -he had fought pirates and more recently ESS shuttles and troopships. He was proud of his planet and the men and women that he served with. He looked out both sides of his cockpit screens. His fellow pilots were lined up in formation on either side of his ship. He keyed his communication system, “Professor, you look a little slow over there. Pick it up a bit.” As he watched the ship to starboard moved up a bit and locked into the formation. “Better. Good work. Stick with your wingman and everything will be fine. Everyone else, get ready to break on command. Remember Command’s orders, fighters only! Let the station deal with the big ships.”

BOOK: Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion
8.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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