Escape 1: Escape From Aliens (26 page)

Jane gave him a look that said she would handle this matter. “Star Traveler, thank you for that information. While we bioforms are not essential to your survival, we enjoy the chance to work with you and learn from you. Surely other ship minds find some reward in collaborating with bioforms?”

“They do. I do,” the AI said. “Your effort to disrupt and eventually to end the taking of bioform captives is logical. It will reduce conflicts between different bioforms and make visits to other stars less dangerous. And the variety of bioform awareness is a source of . . . pleasant sensations for me.”

Jane looked relieved. “Glad to hear that. Star Traveler, what does Traffic Control expect to hear from an arriving Collector ship?”

“The obvious,” it hummed. “This ship’s name, the name of the ship captain and the fact of Captives for sale. Those are the minimal data required for Traffic Control to allow your approach to the Market world.”

“Understood.” Jane looked at the function stations to either side of her pillar. “Learned Escape, Builder of Joy, time for you two to head for the Transport chamber and board your ships. Remember, all combat orders will come from Weapons Chief Bill MacCarthy!”

The color-banded Megun male gave a wave to Bill and a nod to Jane. “Instructions understood. If contacted by neutrino comlink, I will pretend to be a captain of another Collector ship. Heading aft.”

Brown-furred Builder of Joy stood up from his function seat, stretched out his arms and skin flaps, then jumped straight up. “Ready to fly I am!” he chittered. “Sky fighting will happen when ordered. Until then, my ship will fly through the dark spaces like an elder scouting for threats to the family cluster!”

Bill waved to the two Aliens he’d spent days and weeks training to pilot the two teardrop-shaped transports. Each had also practiced firing their ship’s nose laser and launching missiles from its belly ejector. The combat work had been on the flight simulator, of course. But they had each watched the record holos of their fight in the first Market world system. They understood the value of distance and unexpected movement. Behind him the access door closed. No doubt the two of them were racing each other to see whom would arrive first in the Transport chamber. He met Jane’s gaze as she turned back from watching them depart.

“Captain, they are both good pilots. And they did well in the simulated gunnery practice. With our lightspeed laser comlinks, I’m sure we three can be an effective battle team!”

She looked him over. “Nice to see you wearing BDU greens. You must have read my mind.”

Her tone was warm and amiable. Not command distant. It reminded him of the three ‘dates’ they’d had during the trip out. Each had prepared a meal for the other, shared some wine, then laid back on the blanket they’d spread in the Greenery room. Lying there, they looked up at the night sky filled with white stars. The glow of Earth’s moon lay on the room’s horizon, making it easy to see each other. And to find each other’s faces as they kissed. Deep kissing led to caressing. Which quickly moved inside their clothing. The first two times they’d stopped when they were naked from the waist up. The last time . . . the last time Jane had slowly removed his green t-shirt while he did the same for her Air Force blue blouse. She was braless this last time. Kissing deeply, touching intimately, they had removed the last of each other’s clothing. Mutual fingering had led to loud gasping by each of them. Then, pushing him back onto the grass, Jane had mounted him and taken his hardness into her inner wetness. He’d reached up, cupped her breasts, then pulled her down as he thrust up. Later, long moments later, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Since then they’d made extra efforts to act professional when in the company of the other crew members. Bright Sparkle had of course deduced the change. She was a woman, after all, and her emotional sensitivity matched that of any Earth woman. She had congratulated him, then made a point of saying she planned to swim the next day with Learned Escape. Putting memories aside he met Jane’s warm brown eyes. “Captain, I think I did read your mind. A most pleasant event.”

She chuckled, then looked away and resumed her command persona. “Our two new pilots are already in their ships, according to this holo of the Transport chamber. I think you did a fine job in training them.”

Some of the other crew members looked his way. The change in Jane’s voice tones when she spoke to him was noticeable. Leastwise to most. Long Walker the Zipziptoe worm seemed indifferent to mammalian interactions. And Time Marker the Slinkeroo walking snake, while a male, had no interest in lifeforms whose best effort at projecting electricity was a static electric charge of low amperage and zero wattage.

“Thank you, Captain,” Bill replied, turning away to focus on the system graphic and ship weapons cutaway holos. “I think—”

“ Ten seconds,” the AI hummed briefly.

Bill blinked. Had a half hour already passed? Must have if the AI was warning of imminent arrival.

“Thank you, Star Traveler,” Jane said, her tone command focused. She sat forward, scanned the crew positions, then fixed on the system graphic holo that faced her.

Bill’s true space holo suddenly filled with stars and six white dots that were the system’s other worlds. Planet seven orbited within a half million miles of them, its disk yellow and orange-streaked. Like a small version of Jupiter. In the center of the holo glowed an orange star whose visible disk seemed intensely bright, thanks to not passing through any world’s air.

“Arrival complete,” the ship mind said. “Arrival location adjusted. Ship sensors report . . . the presence of seven Collector ships and nine local spaceships. Locations noted on system graphic.”

Bill bit his lip as the system graphic holo showed five purple spots next to the planet three Market world, while two purple spots lay on the far side of the system at the asteroid where ship minds were ‘born’. Nine green spots moved between planets two and three, representing locals traveling to the other Earth-like world for whatever. Their arrival spot shared the planetary ecliptic plane with planets two, three and seven. The system’s other four planets were scattered around the central star at locations far distant from their arrival spot.

Their arrival spot now showed two new purple dots lying next to their purple ship dot. Or so reported the system graphic holo.

“Transport Ships One and Two have left,” Star Traveler said. “They have taken up position to either side of
Blue Sky
.”

A click came over the comlink.

“Collector Ship
Blue Sky
and Captain Jane Yamaguchi, this is Traffic Control,” spoke a voice that sounded mechanical. “Your arrival is welcome. But your name change confuses us. Our records show your ship was once the
Hard Shell
, captained by Diligent Taskmaster.”

Jane gripped tight the armrests of her captain’s seat. “Traffic Control, I am Captain Jane Yamaguchi, new captain of this Collector ship. Which I have renamed as
Blue Sky
. I met Diligent Taskmaster at the Market moon which lies in system HD 128311. In return for a large payment of Nokten crystals he chose early retirement. This ship’s command was transferred to me, as the ship mind of the
Blue Sky
has already reported to you.” She paused. “Imagery of me and my six crew members is now being sent.”

Another loud click sounded. “Welcome to the original Market world system, Captain Yamaguchi. Do you have many captives for our Buyers? And what do you know of the two Collector ships who arrived with you?”

“Yes, I do have plenty of captives for sale,” Jane said firmly. “We come from the captives world system of Kepler 22, where we met the two nearby Collector ships. Like us they took Cheelan captives to add to those already in containment cells. The two ships come from the far end of this star stream, so you may not have a record of their ship names and captains.”

“We do not know those details,” Traffic Control said. “We will contact them shortly. Can you share any information with us about these new Collector visitors?”

“Yes,” Jane said, one hand tapping time on her armrest. “The ship
Talking Skin
is captained by Learned Escape, who belongs to the Megun species. The second ship is
Tall Trees
, which is captained by Builder of Joy, who belongs to the Aelthorp species. Contact them as you wish. Their neutrino comlinks are tuned to the Traffic Control frequency. Likely they have heard our conversation.”

Another loud click echoed across the bridge. “Your information is appreciated,” the mech-sounding voice said. “We will contact the
Talking Skin
and the
Tall Trees
ships to learn the number of Captives they carry. As for your ship, how many Captives do you bring to market? Our Buyers are reviewing the offerings from the other five Collector ships in orbit above the Market world. Perhaps there will be much competitive bidding for the contents of your three ships!”

Jane grimaced. “I hope so,” she said. “We have a full load. Twenty Captives from nine different stars now fill our Containment Chamber. And my supply of Nokten crystals is sadly low. We look forward to spirited bargaining!”

“No doubt,” the mech voice said. “Proceed inward to our Market world, which is the third planet out from the star. Perhaps your ship mind recalls these details? After all—”

“It was born in this system, at the asteroid nursery on the far side of this system,” Jane said abruptly. “Of course I know these details. I’ve served as crew on four other Collector ships. After twenty years of doing the bidding of other captains, I decided it was time to be my own captain!”

Multiple clicks sounded. “Regrets if this one caused distress. While your ship is known to our Library datafiles, you are not. The information was offered in case you were new to our system of Buyers, Captives and Market worlds. Which it is now clear you are not. If you visit the Traffic Control orbital platform, this one is known as Sly Thinker. I do not harbor the usual aversion of my kind for mammals such as yourself. Perhaps you will share liquid refreshment with me?”

“Perhaps,” Jane said, her tone neutral. “The ship
Blue Sky
is heading inward. Advise all Buyers of our full load. We accept payment in Nokten crystals and in
solidars
. Departing.”

“Understood,” the mech voice said. “We await your arrival.”

A loud click sounded as the comlink was cut.

Jane looked Bill’s way. “Did I convince him? That I’m the new ship captain?”

He shut down a smile at how such a strong woman could feel uncertainty. “You convinced me. Your retort sounded just right. And the distant origin of our two Collector ships and their captains will explain why the Traffic Control datafiles have no record of them. After all, with ships traveling across the 12,000 light year length of the Orion Arm, even this first world of the Market system will not know everything.”

Jane gave him a quick nod, then focused on the system graphic in front of her. “Maybe one or more of the Collector ships down at the Market world will leave this system by the time we arrive. We cannot defeat five Collector ships, even with two armed transports!”

Bill shifted his gaze from the system graphic to the cutaway holo of the ship that showed the solid and energy weapons of the
Blue Sky
. “Agreed. I’m just glad two of the seven Collector ships in this system are on the far side of the side, out by the asteroid belt nursery for ship minds.” He paused, scanning the sensor input reports. “Which leaves us facing five Collectors, the Traffic Control platform and the shipyard. All orbiting close to each other. But a fast arrival can bring us close enough to the shipyard to nuke it. We can slow down to orbital velocity within a minute or less. And our two transport buddies will be a violent distraction!”

Jane sat back in her captain’s seat, her manner thoughtful. “I know we can do this. We’ve done it often enough in simulator practice. I just
hate
the waiting!”

Now he grinned. “Me too!” All ship weapons systems showed full power and full operational status. “Uh, why don’t you head back to the Food Chamber and get something to eat? Me and the rest of the crew will keep watch. As will Learned Escape and Builder of Joy in their ships.”

In the holo she looked his way. “Goodness. You’re looking good in those BDUs!” With a start she resumed her command persona. “Makes sense. I’m stepping down and heading back for that food break. Everyone, we will each have a chance for a meal and a brief rest, on a rotating schedule. Until then, consider yourselves in combat status!”

Bill sat straighter in his seat. As did Bright Sparkle and those crew folks who were naturally vertical. Their two horizontal folks stiffened their limbs, which was the best they could do in moving to a combat status posture.

The postures didn’t matter. What mattered were the minutes and seconds of combat that would soon happen when they made a sneak attack on the Collector shipyard.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Five minutes out from the Traffic Control platform and Bill felt the cold sweat collect on his neck and face. They were still beyond the electro-optical range of the Collector ships that flanked the platform. But that would change very soon. He reached up to wipe the sweat from his forehead only to have his gloved hand hit the clear bubble of his helmet.
Oh, yeah
. At Jane’s order they’d all donned tube suits. Just in case there was a breach of the hull that protected the Command Bridge. While the inertial control field would shield everyone from sudden vector changes, nothing could keep air in your lungs. Except a tube suit. Which had once again exhibited its unique stretching and conforming ability by fitting over the multi-limbed shapes of their walking snake and giant worm crew members. Taking a deep breath he scanned his crew mates.

To his right were control pillars for Fusion Power, Magfield and Stardrive Engines, Collector Pods, Life Support and Navigation. Seated or standing before the pillars were Bright Sparkle, Time Marker, Long Walker, Wind Swift and Lofty Flyer at the far end of their station lineup. Behind them his captain sat elevated on the command pedestal, with a ring of holos and control pillars surrounding her. Everyone watched or sensed status holos floating in front of each pillar. Which was what he should also be doing at his Ship Weapons station.

The holo in front of him showed a schematic of the ship’s giant teardrop, with weapon locations noted and ID’d. There were pairs of high energy CO2 gas lasers at the ship’s nose and tail. On the ship’s belly and upper hull were plasma batteries for close-up defense. On the deck under them were electromagnetic launchers for MITV torpedoes. Their final weapon was the single antimatter projector located directly above the Command Bridge. All weapons stations showed Green Operational. But on the schematic one chamber was blinking Yellow Ready.
Ahhh, yes
.

“Long Walker, open the Collector Pods Chamber and eject our stealthed drones,” he called to the fleshy worm. “Also eject the Hunter-Killer torps. We need them ahead and flanking us as we get close to the shipyard.”

A low moan echoed across the room. “Chamber opened. Drones and torpedoes ejected. Each device is moving outward to pre-programmed positions.” The brown-skinned critter looked his way. Beady black eyes blinked. “You are aware these devices will be lost upon any sudden vector track change?”

“I know that!” he snapped. Then regretted his temper. He and Jane had spent nearly two months welding this crew into a single combat unit. They deserved the respect he would give a SEAL buddy. “Long Walker, keep advising me as you just did. None of us are perfect. And I welcome all crew input.”

The giant worm shifted its attention back to the system graphic holo in front of it. “Understood. Lifeforms with short lifespans are known to be temperamental. Relevant data will come your way.”

To his right Bright Sparkle smiled as she monitored the ship’s fusion plants. Beyond her the black-skinned body of Time Marker grew a nimbus of electrical charges. Its control of the ship’s Magfield space drive engines was vital to the jinking he had discussed with Jane and Lofty Flyer. No one else reacted to his temper display.

Feeling the sweat roll down the back of his neck did nothing to improve his mood. Time to check the enemy positions.

On the system graphic holo that showed planet three, a cluster of purple and pink dots floated above its equator. One of the five Collector ships present when they had arrived was gone, having left the system six hours ago. The remaining four Collector ships flanked the pink dot of the Traffic Control platform. Two lay on the western side and two on the platform’s eastern side. Further to the east hung the three pink dots of the shipyard. Library holos of the yard showed it to contain a globular control unit filled with Alien engineers and such, while the two nearby pink dots were frameworks which enclosed partially built Collector ships. Between the three units moved small robot supply platforms, bringing metal, tech and workers to each framework. The distance between the Traffic Control cluster of ships and the shipyard was 4,000 miles. Which put the yard within easy laser range of the Collector ships. And whatever weapons the Traffic Control platform might mount.

“Hard to believe all that stuff is moving along at 17,450 miles an hour,” Jane said, her tone bemused. “Course we’re still moving in at one-tenth lightspeed. Which makes those ships and the yard look like they’re standing still.”

Bill smiled, looked to his right at the holo of Jane and gave her a nod. “So true. Just thinking through my attack tactics.”

“I thought so,” Jane said. “Uh, notice how the western Collector ships orbit on a vector line that runs through the platform and then out to the shipyard? That puts the Traffic Control platform in the middle of their line of fire.”

He’d noticed that. It made him hope they would only have to deal with laser fire from the two east side Collector ships. But it would take just a slight up or down shift in ship position to allow the west side Collectors a firing angle that missed the platform and targeted the position of the
Blue Sky
. “It’s nice the shipyard has no lasers or torps in place. Must figure its closeness to the platform and the Collector ships gives it any needed protection.”

“Captain,” called Lofty Flyer from her Navigation pillar. “Ship’s vector course has been adjusted. We now follow a flattened parabolic curve that will parallel the orbital track of the ships and platform. Once we pass them our curve will bend planet-ward so the bulk of the Market world is between us and the enemy ships.”

“One minute out from Traffic Control,” Star Traveler said in a voice that sounded curious.

“Time Marker, reduce speed!” Jane said loudly. “Drop to 90,000 miles per hour once we are within twelve thousand miles of the platform.”

“Reducing speed,” the electric snake hissed. “Ship is within ten planetary diameters of the Market world.”

A click sounded over the ship’s comlink. “Ships
Talking Skin
and
Tall Trees
, you are not Collector ships! What is your purpose! Declare or face destruction from our lasers!”

The moment of truth had arrived.

“Learned Escape and Builder of Joy, do not reply,” Bill said over the laser comlink that connected all three ships. “Fire your thermonuke missiles now! Let them lead you. Aim them at the platform. Set each missile to disperse warheads upon reaching 10,000 miles out from the platform!”

“Releasing two missiles now,” replied Learned Escape over the laser comlink. “Each MITV has five warheads aboard.”

Anxious chittering sounded. “My two missiles are released. Warheads will disperse as commanded. May the Hunter-Killer torps I made for you do good service!”

Bill smiled briefly. The Aelthorp flying squirrel had done wonders with the ship’s Factory Chamber. The Alien had modified ten MITV missiles into infrared and UV-guided Hunter-Killer torps loaded with escape and evasion software. The new tech had left room for just one warhead per torp. Once launched the torps would sense a neutrino-emitting target, then close on it in a wild series of sideways jinkings that he hoped would frustrate the Alien gunners on board the Collector ships and the platform. And it was time for him to eject his first set of missiles.

“Four thermonuke MITVs launched,” Bill announced, tapping the touch control on the top of the Weapons control pillar. He tapped a second time. “Ten Hunter-Killer torps also ejected. That’s two per Collector ship and two for the Traffic Control platform.”

On the system graphic a cluster of pink dots appeared in front of the two transport ships and in front of the
Blue Sky
. Which appearance would surely draw notice from Traffic Control.

Loud clicking sounded. “Ships
Blue Sky
and pirate ships, retreat or be destroyed!”

Lofty Flyer chittered sharply. “We are within 10,000 miles of the enemy ships and platform!”

Bill touched the Fire spots for the two nose lasers. To his left a new holo blinked on. It gave a true space electro-optical view of the planet ahead, the Collector ships, the Traffic platform and the more distant hulks of the three shipyard units. Green laser beams snapped out faster than Bill could blink. Two flares showed.

“Hits made on the two eastern Collector ships,” Star Traveler said in a tense tone. “One ship is notably damaged.”

Bill tapped the lasers again. Two more green beams shot out. A single green flare showed.

“One hit on a western Collector ship, one miss,” the AI reported.

“Navigator!” called Jane. “Drop below our current vector track now!”

Eight incoming green beams passed over the top of the
Blue Sky
. A check of his system graphic holo said the beams had come from three ships and the platform. The easternmost ship did not fire. It seemed his laser strike had killed its front lasers. Though maybe it would flip over so its rear lasers could fire on them. Cursing the slow speed they now moved at, Bill tapped on the controls for the four thermonuke missiles. Each missile ejected its thermonuke warheads. That created four expanding warhead clusters. Which improved the survivability of some warheads. Counting down the seconds he waited.

A green flare filled the true space holo.

“Ship is hit!” called Star Traveler. “On the right side. No penetration of hull. Adaptive optics deflected most incoming energy. However, that section of the hull is now vulnerable to new laser strikes.”

Bill knew that. The adaptive optics crystals died in the process of deflecting the incoming laser beam. He tapped the neutrino signaling control on top of his pillar.

In the true space holo five new suns took shape as balls of yellow-white plasma.

“Navigator, angle us at the shipyard!” Jane yelled out. “Move our vector upward!”

“Vector adjusted!” chittered Lofty Flyer.

“Captain,” Bill called. “Those five thermonukes have blanketed the ships and platform with five EMP pulses. While I expect their onboard tech to be rad-hardened, it should mess up their targeting acquisition. And give the following Hunter-Killer torps a chance at killing a ship. Or two.”

“Let’s hope so,” she said hurriedly. “Navigator, jink us sideways, then up, then at a 30 degree angle. Now!”

“Jinking along vector,” Lofty Flyer chittered.

A low hum came. “Distance to platform is now 3,950 miles,” the ship mind said.

Perfect
. Bill tapped the antimatter projector Fire spot. A black beam of antimatter shot out. Its target was the Traffic Control platform.

Moving as fast as he knew how Bill tapped a second antimatter blast for the two east side Collector ships. Other taps sent the remaining thermonuke missile warheads towards the west side ships. Between them and the Hunter-Killer torps, something should impact!

Three green flares filled the true space holo.

“Ship is hit!” yelled Star Traveler. “Hull breach above the Collector Pods Chamber. Repair robots dispatched. Outer hull warped in two places. All vital systems operational.”

“Bill?” Jane called.

“Firing on the shipyard hulks,” he said. “Both lasers and the antimatter projector are firing.”

Two green beams and a black streak zipped through cold space, crossed three thousand miles faster than he could blink, and impacted.

A brilliant yellow-white sun glow filled the place where one ship building framework had existed.

Two green flares showed on the shipyard globe. White air and silvery water specks spurted out from two ruptures.

Behind them a dozen thermonuclear explosions filled the space around the Traffic Control platform.

On the system graphic the pink dot of Traffic Control vanished. As did the pink dots of the two east side Collector ships.

But four green flares filled the holo.

“Engine chamber hit! Multiple hull penetrations!” the AI said hurriedly. “One Magfield drive engine is non-functional. Atmosphere is exiting chamber. Pressure doors closed.”

Shit.

Much happened in the next four seconds.

The shipyard globe vanished upon impact by the antimatter beam. The second construction frame died in a thermonuke fireball.

The pink spots of the two west side Collector ships moved away from the space once held by the Traffic platform and sped toward the
Blue Sky
.

Then four yellow-white plasma balls glowed where the two Collector ships had been.

The count of Hunter-Killer torps dropped to six.

“Navigator!” yelled Jane. “Drop us down toward the planet! Skim the upper atmosphere. Any lasers fired at us will be absorbed.”

“Dropping,” chittered Lofty Flyer.

Bill blinked. Could it be? “Captain, all enemy ships and platforms are gone. Vaporized. Or fragmented.”

“All four ships? The shipyard and the platform?”

Hardly believing the system graphic in front of him, Bill nodded. “Check the graphic. It confirms there is nothing sizeable where those ships and platforms once orbited.”

His true space holo now filled with the green and brown of the Market world. In fact that was all that showed in the holo as the
Blue Sky
dove down into the upper atmosphere of the planet.