Lens of Time (19 page)

“Yes Sir.”

“We’ve lost Admiral Owens and I need you to issue a battlefield promotion to Admiral Gibbons to take Bob’s place. Do it on my authorization and get him over to the third fleet immediately. They need someone to help take their minds off their loss.”

Kate slowly shook her head and then took a deep breath. She exhaled and said, “You’ve chosen a good man to follow him, Sir.”

“I know; I’ve been watching him. Tell him he has my highest confidence in his ability.”

Kate nodded and the display went dark.

RV sat in his chair and thought about the coming horrors and then pressed his panel again. He waited for three minutes and then a face appeared on his display, “Yes Sir.”

RV saw the Captain was only showing her face and realized she must have been out of uniform. “Captain Tulu, you have been promoted to Rear Admiral and you will immediately report to Admiral Diamond to take command of your sub-fleet.”

RV saw the stunned expression on Melodie’s face and then she said, “Thank you, Sir. I won’t let you down.”

RV smiled and said, “You can tell that Lieutenant with you that he’s promoted to Captain and will assume the command of the Hiroshima.”

Melodie’s face turned bright red and she quickly said, “Yes Sir, I’ll notify him immediately.”

RV smiled, “The two of you are a good team. Keep up the good work.”

Even in his moment of sorrow RV had to smile at those that were finding happiness where they could in the mist of all the horrors taking place.

• • •

Melody said, “You are now a Captain and I’m an Admiral. Now we have about six minutes before we have to report to our new assignment. Let’s not waste it.”

“Aye, aye, Sir.”

• • •

“Jillian, this looks like a good place.”

“The nine habitable planets within ten light years is a blessing. I just wonder what kind of neighbors live close by. Do we have time to take a look?”

“We’ll make time. We don’t want another M-87.”

Chris extended the fields in Sierra Space and set them to search for high energy emissions. After twenty minutes coordinates began appearing on the screen. “It looks like there are some neighbors about half way across the galactic plane.”

Jillian sent the readings through the processor and waited. Dolly said, “The power being used is not at our current level. It is being used on a wide scale in that part of the galaxy.”

Chris read Dolly’s report and said, “Have you recorded anyone scanning us?”

“No, there have been no scans.”

Jillian said, “What are you thinking?”

“I just can’t select this as our escape planets without knowing more about the closest civilizations. I see they aren’t at our power levels but that may just be on their planets. Their military may be operating at a much higher level.”

“Do you want to go take a look?”

“No, we can’t take any risks with the Jukebox. I’m going to send a new attack craft.”

“Why?”

“The force field is three times stronger than the Jukebox’s. It stands a better chance of survival than we do.”

Captain Phillips said, “I’ll take it.”

Jillian turned around and nodded, “Take one of the attack pilots with you.”

“Actually, I’m going to take a weapons officer.”

Jillian smiled, “You’re right. Stay in touch.”

“You should be able to scan what’s going on.”

“Not without getting close.”

“Why can’t you set up the fields to capture the light twenty two minutes out?”

Chris looked at Jillian and chuckled, “We’ll do just that.”

Phil left the bridge and Jillian said, “Why haven’t we thought of that before?”

“Sometimes the simplest answer eludes us. Move the Jukebox and I’ll start collecting the light before he arrives.”

The Jukebox emerged into normal space and the reflected light from the planet was immediately captured. “Uh oh!”

Jillian turned around, “What?”

“There’s orbiting military satellites around that planet.”

“How many?”

“Ten.”

“What about warships?”

“I don’t see any and there’s something odd about those satellites.”

“What is that?”

“All the weapons are aimed at the planet.”

Chapter Fifteen

J
illian stared at Chris and immediately hit her board, “Phil, I’m patching what we’ve collected to your board.”

Phil examined his display as a young woman entered the attack craft and started powering up her console. Phil thought about backing out and letting the Jukebox go in to the planet but then reconsidered that idea. The attack craft’s force field was stronger and it wasn’t good to reveal all your cards too early. He nodded toward the weapons officer and said to Jillian, “I think I need to make the trip anyway. We don’t want to reveal a main battleship before we determine what’s going on.”

Jillian looked at Chris and he nodded. Jillian said, “We are powering up weapons and will come in to your defense if necessary. Just be careful.”

“You should really rethink that Jillian. If they’re able to penetrate my force field before I could escape, you should not endanger the Jukebox. This mission is just too critical to jeopardize it to save me. You know I’m right.”

“Then that leads me to just call this off and look elsewhere.”

“Jillian, those ten planets are perfect for our needs. Taking risks is what our job is all about.” Phil thought a moment, “If it would make you feel better, have a squadron of Needles ready to launch. This is worth doing.”

Chris stared at Jillian and said, “We’re moving in to three light seconds. The Needles will be standing by.”

“You’ll probably be seen that close.” Phil looked at the planet he was going to examine and said, “Stay where you are and have the Needles jump in directly behind the second moon. I’ll be sending them a direct feed of what’s happening on their George Communicators.”

Chris smiled, “Don’t take any stupid chances, Phil. We need you on the Ninja.”

“I’ll do what I can taking into consideration the goals of this mission. I’ll be launching in ten minutes.” Phil looked up as the general quarters alarms started blaring. He turned the sound off and looked at his weapons officer, “Are you ready?”

She smiled and said, “My board is active. Missiles and beam are online and drawing power.”

Phil said, “I don’t believe I’ve seen you onboard.”

“I arrived two weeks ago after completing the advanced time field training.”

“I thought you were a weapons officer?”

“I’m ranked number one in weapons in my class at the academy.”

Phil tilted his head, “The Jukebox does get the best graduates.”

“Thank you, Captain. I hope our second date goes a little easier than this one.”

“Date?”

“I’ve been planning to allow you to ask me out to dinner but you’ve managed to avoid me rather effectively. It’s good to see you’re getting out more.”

Phil saw she was smiling and didn’t know what to think about her comments. “And your name is?”

“Lt. Anne Hardy.”

Phil thought a moment and then said, “You’re Admiral Hardy’s sister.”

The young woman smiled, “No, she is my sister.”

Phil thought about her retort and knew that she wanted to be known for her own actions; not her sister’s. “Well, next time let me know you’re coming and I’ll bring you a rose.”

“REALLY!?!”

Phil smiled, “Really. Now get your scanner powered; we’re jumping in less than a minute.”

“I’m on it, Sir.”

Phil turned his attention back to his display and saw that Cyanna’s sister was just as beautiful as she was. It was hard to see with her armor and helmet on but her face was a younger version of Cyanna and he saw from her close fitting suit that she was slightly taller than Cyanna and identically proportioned. He forced himself to concentrate on his console.

• • •

Phil moved the attack craft away from the hull of the Jukebox and saw forty Needles holding formation three hundred yards away. “Who is commanding the Squadron?”

“I am, Sir.”

Phil smiled, “Joshua, the rescue call is Jericho.”

The Lieutenant Laughed, “And the walls came tumbling down. I’ve entered the call into our drives. Good luck, Sir.”

Phil looked at Anne and smiled, “Is this your first action?”

“No Sir. I fought with the Havana at the Ramst System.”

Phil tilted his head, “I am impressed. That was not an easy target.”

Anne smiled, “Neither are you, Sir.”

Phil turned to his board and hit the jump drive. This lady was quick. She had a quick wit.

• • •

Phil jumped in beyond the second moon’s orbit and began moving toward the planet. He had his scanners going and saw the forty Needles jump in behind the moon, land on its surface, and power off their systems. Anne saw them as well and was impressed that Captain Phillips had planned his route in making sure his support was ready before he was close to the weapon platforms circling the planet. They moved in at a faster pace and Anne said, “Two of the platforms are rotating and bringing their weapons to bear.”

“Prepare for weightless maneuvers. I’m stopping twenty thousand miles out and setting the thrusters to operate automatically if they fire on us.”

“Do you want me to return fire, Sir?”

“Only if they can hit us with multiple beams.”

“Sir, we are being scanned.”

“I see it. I’m holding position. Let’s see what shows up.” Phil noticed the force field changing into the sharp point used during attack. He looked at Anne and she said, “I don’t want to limit our options.”

Phil nodded and continued to watch his display. Anne noticed that he changed the setting on the thrusters. She smiled and thought, “He was as smart as Cyanna said he was.”

Phil looked at his scanner and said, “Ace, are you picking up that frequency?”

“I am, Captain. I should have enough to begin translating in a few more minutes.”

“Have you been able to determine anything so far?”

“They appear to be rather upset with us. I’ve determined that from the tone of the conversation.”

Phil looked at Anne, “I don’t have to tell you to not fire unless I order it?”

“I think it would be better if you gave me some leeway to make a determination. By the time you gave the order, it might be too late.”

Phil stared at her then said, “Your board is free.”

Anne smiled again and thought. “His ego is not too big.”

Phil held his position in space and after thirty minutes the computer said, “They have considered firing on us with the platforms but they’ve been able to get a reading on the force field and don’t think they could penetrate it from that range.”

Phil looked at Anne and she said, “I have it at twenty percent, Sir.”

“What else, Ace?”

“They are calling help in to handle us. It should be arriving momentarily.”

Phil put his hands on the flight controls and Anne reached for the force field panel. Phil was impressed that she was anticipating his plan. This was one smart officer.

Suddenly, he saw something breaking into normal space less than a mile from them. He turned the attack craft as Anne went to full power on the force field. He accelerated toward the disturbance just as a giant grey ship more than three miles in diameter emerged into normal space. It fired a massive beam at them but the attack craft shrugged it off, penetrated the giant ship’s force field, and then went weightless. Phil stared at the scan of the ship and accelerated. The attack craft hit the hull of the ship at the base of a huge laser installation and stopped. Phil added weight and the small ship settled to the hull. The laser attempted to depress its barrel but was unable to bring it low enough to fire on the small ship.

Ace said, “You’ve managed to get their full attention.”

“Open a channel, Ace.”

“Channel is open.”

Phil leaned back in his chair and said, “If you power up your drives I will destroy this ship.” He looked at Anne and waited for them to response.

• • •

“What do you mean it’s attached to my hull?”

“Look at the exterior monitor. It’s under the laser.”

“Hit it with another one.”

“They would have to fire through the hull to hit it.”

“There are massive electrical conduits that would be destroyed if we tried it.”

“How did it get through our force field?”

“I have no idea.”

“Get a scan on it.”

“We’re unable to comply. The scanners are all above the level of that ship.”

The Ship’s Commander heard over his intercom, “If you power up your drives, I will destroy this ship.”

“How does that ship know our language?”

“Why don’t you ask them?”

“Call in more ships.” The Commander keyed his board, “How do you know our language?”

“We have a mechanism that learns languages quickly. Your satellite’s communication gave us enough to be able to communicate.”

The Commander knew that technology was higher than anything his species possessed, if this being was being honest. “Why have you intruded on our territory?”

“We wanted to see what kind of civilizations are here.”

“Then you are not from this galaxy.”

“No, we are not.” The Commander was quiet and started to feel a measure of fear. “We are not here to invade or attack you.”

“You really don’t expect me to take that at face value. You just threatened my ship.”

“You can leave in peace momentarily. I just wanted to ask a few questions and then you can be on your way.”

Phil heard an alarm and saw thirty more giant ships emerge into normal space. The Commander said, “You will leave the hull of my ship or the fleet will destroy you.”

“I’m impressed with the fast response of your other ships, but your threat is hollow and you know it. They’ll not fire on your ship just to remove a small ship like this one. That would be a stupid trade, wouldn’t you say?”

The Commander knew the being was right. Then the Fleet Admiral broke into the conversation, “We’ll do exactly that. We will not tolerate a threat in our territory.”

“How do you know I’m a threat?”

“You’re on the hull of one of my ships and have threatened to destroy it.”