Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (43 page)

Buck thanked the doctor after assurances he would check back from time to time.

"Admiral, I don’t want to stay cooped up here." Buck sat in a chair. "As soon as my sight is restored, I’m going to the surface."

"Against doctor’s orders? Not a good idea, my Lord. Besides, in medical matters, he can overrule me."

"That applies to those under your command," Buck responded. "Not me and I am in command of this fleet. Now make the necessary arrangements."

Tenkiller saluted and the doctor stepped back. Both their faces showed surprise at the determination in Buck’s voice.

Early the next day, Buck assured the doctor he would take extra precautions to keep the wound sterile and entered the hanger to board a launch, his eyes covered with special goggles the compliant doctor provided. Admiral Tenkiller assigned twenty Marines to accompany the defiant Minister.

"Minister," the waiting Admiral said, "We have a request from the Kalazecis Royal Fleet Commander."

Buck stopped. "And it says?"

"They are not doing well against the rebel ships and request our assistance."

Buck stepped back from the launch. "Hard to understand. Didn’t you say one hundred command naval officers had joined the revolt?"

"Yes, Sir," Tenkiller responded.

"Have you monitored the fight?"

"Yes, Sir. We have no signatures on each ship. We can’t determine who’s who, let alone the winners."

"Contact the War Minister. See if we can get that information." Buck turned from the launch, dismissed the Marines waiting to board, and headed for his cabin, Tenkiller at his side.

Buck’s concern heightened. If the rebellious fleet won, Myslac wouldn’t stand a chance and Djac's reign would be over. Maybe Iona’s heavy cruisers plus those that came with Tommy could make a difference.

The Marine posted, opened the cabin hatch and two stepped through. By the time they arrived, Myslac had transmitted the electronic signature of every Kalazecis ship and identified those in rebellion.

Minutes later, the computer chief had the information in the system and transferred to the bridge plot. Buck and Tenkiller studied the data.

Buck sat in his chair and activated the overhead screen. For the next hour, his eyes didn’t stray from the plot. Loyal ships appeared as green dots and rebel’s as red. "It’s a melee. Seems neither side has coordinated their attacks or defense," Buck’s finger traced the plot.

"At least we know who not to shoot," Buck said and added, "Any suggestions?"

Tenkiller thought for a moment. "I think we can do a trace on every ship. See if we can establish a pattern. If so, it may give us some ideas."

"Excellent suggestion. Get it going."

After setting up the parameters, Tenkiller returned to the plot. "Let's see what they give us. If the rebel leader is as good as the War Minister said, it may be nothing," he said.

Buck placed his hands on the computer's contact plates.

'Lord Fryman,’ the computer said, ‘it is good to hear from you. This is the first time in over a year that you’ve made contact. I still do not understand your reluctance to make use of my vast knowledge.'

"Don’t be uppity, computer. You know of our plan to assist the loyal Kalazecis fleet. Do you have any suggestions to offer?"

'Only that it serves Sebastian and that is sufficient. Once I have your detailed plan to assist the Kalazecis, I will be able to evaluate it properly.'

Buck withdrew his hands. "Assemble the fleet," Buck said. "Maybe just our showing up might give us something to work with. Have communications alert the Kalazecis Admiral we’re on our way."

"I see you have reservations about the computer, as I do. Frankly, it unnerves me to know it monitors every breath I take."

Buck only nodded as the two stepped through the hatch. "Minister and Admiral on the bridge," the Marine sentry said.

In their chairs, the overhead plot activated, they resumed the watch.

"Astrogator, ETA to within five hundred thousand kilometers of the rebel Kalazecis?" Tenkiller asked.

"Current acceleration, ten T-hours, Sir."

Absolute quiet ruled over the bridge. For the next four hours, Buck assigned a number to each rebel ship. He traced the path of every vessel, identifying the most active. To the most successful, he added a discrete identifier.

"Admiral that ship marked with a star; see if we can get the identity of the captain and if so, his profile," Buck said.

Tenkiller passed the order to the comm operator. The request went to the Myslac War Admiral. Within minutes, Buck had the information.

Tenkiller identified and isolated the specified ship, and Buck read the screen.

"Know your enemy," Tenkiller said. "Anything of interest, Minister?"

"Admiral, how do we tackle this? Take them head-on or try to pry some away?

"It seems the War Minister believes this officer is most likely the leader," Tenkiller said. "Says the man is smarter than the one leading the loyalist. War Minister's personal comment."

"That may be why the loyalists are losing," Buck said. "The rebel captain is outnumbered and winning, at least in the number of ships he’s killed.

"He can’t win in an attrition fight; he has to make his move shortly," Buck said.

"It seems he’s spotted us. Forming up a defensive screen. Looks like twenty ships. What does he know of our capabilities, Admiral?"

"We’ve not given anyone information about our abilities. In my opinion, he can assume we are standard heavy cruisers."

"I’ll assume he knows us in detail," Buck said. "I never underestimate an opponent."

"Missile launch range in one T-hour," weapons said.

"Captain, set general quarters." Tenkiller motioned to his XO.

Buck left the bridge to get into his skinsuit as the bosun's whistle sounded over the speakers and then the klaxon sounded General Quarters.

Shortly afterward, he returned and standing at the astrogator's plot board pointed at one ship. "Looks like that one's leaving. I'd bet anything that's Mahoney. Saw our arrival and doesn't want any part of us." Buck recalled a ship leaving at the second battle for Katakan and now knew that was Mahoney making his escape.

"Got a signature, Admiral," said the comm operator. "It's the Dolin Elite."

"That has to be Maloney. I'm going after him as soon as the outcome of this battle is known. Keep a track on him. Just maybe we can put a stop to him once and for all." It bothered him that Ajnoc would know him as his father's killer and he momentarily reconsidered. But then Buck decided to let his decision stand.

"Retribution is on a vector out-system," radar added. "Ten ships leaving."

"That would be Fillman," Buck said.

"Looks like the rats are leaving," Tenkiller said. "The fight will be strictly between the loyal, rebel Kalazecis and us.

"Want to send a ship or two after Fillman, Lord Fryman?"

"No, let him go. You need to help our new friends put down the revolt. Speaking of new friends, any word on how the battle is going on the planet?" Buck asked.

Tenkiller signaled comm to make contact with Myslac war ministry. Shortly, the comm said, "Incoming from the War Minister."

Tenkiller ordered it put it on the speaker.

"Lord Fryman and Admiral Tenkiller, your Marines," he paused, "have been most successful. They have set an example of how trained and determined fighters can change the complexion of a battle. We are winning. It is a matter of cleaning up isolated pockets of resistance. My congratulations and thanks."

This was a welcome change for Buck. Earlier, he had requested a meeting with the war minister and got a curt refusal.

Buck keyed the comm, acknowledged the compliment, and added, "Matters may be in hand on the surface, War Minister, but we still have a battle here. The outcome is not certain." With that, Buck broke the connection and returned to the plot board.

With the arrival of the Ionian ships, the loyal Kalazecis broke off engagement and withdrew, separating the fleets by one million kilometers.

"Get the Kalazecis admiral on a secure comm," Buck said.

"This is Admiral Zjnic, Lord Fryman. Thank you for joining with us."

Buck acknowledged the thanks and said, "I'm sending you a plan for attacking the rebels. Feel free to disagree with it. And any suggestions you care to make are welcome."

Buck reached for a vid-pad and sketched the attack plan he had in mind.

Tenkiller, at his elbow watched. "Lord Fryman, the one thing that is predictable with you is that you are unpredictable. It is just a matter of how you go for the jugular—every time."

Buck smiled. "I think it is time we discuss your characterization—after this if over, Admiral." That drew a chuckle from both men.

The Kalazecis admiral responded he had no better idea and would need at least five hours to form up his ships.

Buck suggested their forward wall hold its present position providing some cover for the maneuver.

Buck and Tenkiller watched the royal fleet take up attack positions.

"Enemy fleet has formed for what appears as their run at the royals," Tenkiller said. "I'll be damned. Once they commit, that will put them in position to counter our flank maneuver."

Tenkiller ordered his squadron to assemble on Cochise. That would force the enemy to wait until the Ionian's completed their maneuver and eliminate any adjustment to counter the flank assault.

"Admiral Tenkiller, commit your ships when the loyal fleet is within one hundred thousand kilometers of the rebels," Buck said. "How do you plan to dispense your weapons?"

"Missiles, torpedoes, then pulsed energy cannons," Tenkiller said and added, "CIC, mark any escape capsules."

"Astrogation, how long until the loyal fleet engages?" Buck asked.

"At current acceleration, thirty T-minutes, Sir."

"We'll go in at military speed," Tenkiller said. "On my mark."

Buck pointed at the plot. "Seems the defensive screen the rebel's threw up to greet us is getting some reinforcement," he said. "Admiral, have our two starboard outboard ships increase to military speed now. When within missile range, do a slewing vector, heading thirty degrees to port, relative."

Tenkiller acknowledged the order and nodded to the comm operator who issued the command.

Buck's maneuver would cut the defenders off from reinforcement or support fire and his two battle cruisers could pick them off one at a time. "The most outboard ship can bring meaningful fire against us. Just like shooting Galen ducks, one at a time."

"They're going to catch hell and I think the rebel Captain realizes the trap he's put his ships into," Tenkiller said. "He's in trouble and knows it."

"He's no dummy." Buck eyed the plot. "He's vectoring his inboard starboard ship and making a port slewing turn." That brought two enemy ships against Iona's two battle cruisers.

"But that's where the comparison stops," Buck said. Iona's ships out-massed the rebel Kalazecis destroyers by a factor of four and outgunned them by that and half again.

"Admiral, order your ships to flank speed and open fire when in range." Flank speed would put them just below sub-light and if needed, they could engage the gravionic generators and go to light speed. Iona's longer ranging weapons and numbers were an advantage but he would not sell the enemy Admiral short. With the few options the man had available, he clearly had tactical experience and superbly applied his skills.

Buck's eyes swept the plot checking the movement of every ship.

His finger traced the loyal Kalazecis path. "Admiral, suggest to your counterpart that he take a vector twenty degrees to port and elevate fifty thousand kilometers. That should counter the rebel's move.

"How long before they're in range?" Buck asked.

Tenkiller, at the plot, waited as weapons ran the numbers and said, "Current acceleration, estimate another ten T-minutes before they can bring their energy cannons to bear. The royals have the advantage; too bad they don't have our weapons."

"Fleets have engaged," radar said.

"Minister, this will be a blood bath for both sides," Tenkiller said and added, "Any closer and the fight would qualify for hand-to-hand."

Buck nodded; his eyes never left the plot.

Blossoms appeared and then disappeared as ships died. "Two down, rebels," Buck said. Ships vanished from the plot faster than he could mention them. "It seems you are correct, Admiral. There may be nothing left on either side when this is over."

He turned his attention to Iona's ships. Admiral Tenkiller intensely eyed the plot, nodded, and keyed the comm, "You may open fire."

Minutes later, Tenkiller, still at the plot said, "Weapons, on my mark… Launch."

On his command eight heavy battle cruisers, each with twenty missile tubes launched their long-range death. The Kalazecis had no ability to intercept and both officers were confident every missile would find its mark.

"At our current acceleration, we'll be within cannon range in ten T-minutes," astrogation said.

"Weapons, targets of opportunity," Tenkiller ordered.

Ships disappeared or limped away, those that could. Some were no more than space junk.

Tenkiller ordered the two Ionian ships flanking formerly twenty enemy vessels, now seven, to open fire well beyond the rebel's range.

Two enemy ships disappeared from the plot.

Four more enemy ships disappeared and two loyals. "That makes forty ships the rebels have lost. Royal's loss at fifteen. Can't win," Buck said. "I hope they realized it and disengage."

"From what they can expect if they surrender, I doubt they will," Tenkiller said. Both men knew summary execution waited any that gave up the fight.

Buck agreed. Hours later, he clapped his hands and said, "Looks like the rebels are breaking off."

"They’re accelerating out-system," radar added.

"And not stopping to pick up survivors," Tenkiller noted.

"It's over," Buck said and added, "Terrible waste."

"Minister, Admiral," commed the Royal Admiral, "I am sending all but ten of our ships to pursue the rebel's. Thank you for your help. It made the difference."