The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) (19 page)

James spent the night onboard the
Aurora
. He woke up and gazed out to see the Wilarn star was rising quickly above the horizon, producing an orange and yellow glow in the sky. As soon as the star rose high enough, the shadow cast by the chasm retreated across the landing area, and the buildings, one by one, shone brightly in the light.

‘I’ve never seen a star rise before. It’s beautiful isn’t it,’ Kalrea remarked.

‘It sure is. I’m glad I was awake to see it.’

The shadow of two approaching fighters moved like a wave over the buildings.

‘James, the two fighters sent by Milonri are requesting permission to land onboard,’ Kalrea said.

‘Open the cargo bay doors. I’ll meet them there,’ James said, proudly adjusting his new uniform.

He was amazed how light and cosy it felt.

When James entered the cargo bay, the two fighters were just powering down their drives. The pilots got out of their ships and walked towards him. One was a commander, the other a lieutenant. The black helmets they wore made him smile, reminding him of bikers from Earth.

‘Welcome onboard,’ James said, greeting them in the Qintaino way.

He was surprised though when the commander held out a hand. He shook it slowly, trying to make out the commander’s face through the slightly tinted visor.

When they removed their helmets James face lit up. It was Gulino and Londuo.

‘I never expected you. I didn’t know you were fighter pilots,’ James said, with a large grin on his face.

‘In this war you have to be able to do just about anything, sir,’ Gulino replied. ‘Milonri thought it would be a good idea if we came along with you on this mission.’

‘Please Gulino, call me James. I thought you two, Antaio and Intropa were a team… worked together?’ James asked.

‘Yes and no,’ Gulino replied. ‘Yes, we do work together from time to time, but we’re all part of a larger team. We’ve been nicknamed “
the scroungers”
.’

‘
Scroungers
?’ James repeated.

‘It’s because we go out and recover parts for the fleet. There are currently twenty-eight of us. We’re picked because of our fields of expertise. Londuo’s is propulsion and weaponry, mine’s command… obviously, but I can cover reactor physics, propulsion and weaponry. I think that’s why Milonri asked us to accompany you on this mission. No offence, Kalrea.’

‘What about Intropa and Antaio?’ James enquired.

‘Intropa’s is electronics, Antaio’s security and combat; his job is to protect us.’

‘That explains a lot,’ James said. ‘It’s probably why he shot me!’

Gulino and Londuo smiled.

Gulino continued,

‘We alternate on missions, so everyone gets to work with everyone.’

‘Why?’

‘If anyone is killed, it doesn’t affect the efficiency of other missions.’

‘Oh,’ James said. ‘It sounds like a dangerous team to be in.’

‘I suppose it does,’ Gulino said cheerfully. ‘Antaio and Intropa have returned to the
Rellopila
. Londuo normally commands a squadron of fighters stationed on the
Lonori
.’

‘Really!’ James said in surprise.

He looked over at Londuo, who shook her short brunette hair with its white highlights.

‘You look great all cleaned up. I mean… Not that you didn’t look great when you were dirty,’ he said, fumbling.

She moved towards him. James looked into her light-green eyes. Then Londuo said,

‘I’m not the only one who looks different. I see Milonri’s made you a captain. Congratulations.’

‘Thank you, I like your hair like that… suits you.’

Londuo smiled.

I hate to break you two up, but it’s time to go,
Kalrea’s voice said abruptly in James’ head.
Lonori docking control is requesting our arrival in six minutes.

You’re not jealous are you, Kalrea?
James thought.

There was no reply.

Take us up, Kalrea
, James thought, with a smile.

*****

By the time they reached the bridge, the
Aurora
was soaring into the morning sky.

‘Kalrea’s installed two seats, like those in your fighter, for you. If it gets a bit rough, at least the harnesses will stop you being thrown around,’ James said.

Londuo smiled.

‘Just as well. I’ve got enough bruises from the battle with the Treitan cruiser at Qintaino to last a sykal.’

She moved over to the closest seat.

‘That’s if we can sit in them,’ Londuo said cheerfully. ‘I think Kira has claimed this one.’

James looked at the seat. Kira was curled up, totally oblivious to her surroundings.

They watched the monitor while the
Aurora
broke sedately out of the atmosphere and glided over to where the fleet had assembled. It was a stunning sight. There were ships everywhere, and there at the centre was the carrier
Lonori
.

James watched on expectantly. The
Aurora
slowly approached the gaping bay doors of the
Lonori
. Instructions were communicated over the internal address system of the
Aurora
.

‘AURORA
CLEARED FOR DOCKING.’

‘NAVIGATION SYSTEMS ACTIVATED.’

‘CLAMPING STATION FIVE PREPARED FOR DOCKING.’

The
Aurora
coasted inside the
Lonori
. The internal docking bay reminded James of the interior of the Uolcolian planetary trading station. Already docked inside were a number of ships. He watched as the
Aurora
moved between the frigate
Nordota
and the assault ship
Kinfin
. Once it reached the wall a mechanical docking clamp swung into position. Large arms swept above and below the ship, then closed together.

James heard a loud metallic clank, as they gripped the hull. The ship shuddered momentarily. Then, he could hear the distant drone of hydraulics, while the ship was positioned closer to the wall.

‘Commander Mariton is on his way,’ Kalrea said.

‘DOCKING COMPLETE.’

Three seconds later, the lift arrived and the door opened. Gulino and Londuo stood to attention.

‘Permission to come onboard, sir,’ Commander Mariton said.

‘Oh… Er… Yes,’ James replied nervously.

‘Welcome onboard the
Lonori,
sir.
I’m Commander Mariton.’

‘James Brasdoi.
Er… and this is Commander—’

‘We already know each other, James,’ Gulino said, interrupting. ‘Hi, Adonti.’

‘Gulino,’ Adonti replied in acknowledgement. ‘You’ve changed your hair, Londuo. I almost didn’t recognise you.’

Londuo blushed.

‘Executive Captain Isistia Hirniol is expecting you and Gulino on the bridge,’ Adonti said to James.

‘Great!’ James said. ‘I mean, yes of course.’

Londuo looked uneasy.

‘I’ll see you two later,’ she said, with a forced smile.

James realised that Londuo was not going to come with them. As he entered the lift he looked over at her. She smiled back at him.

Adonti spoke as they entered the lift.

‘All the pojin tubes in sections fifteen and sixteen are offline for the next two days—’

The lift door closed and he stopped mid-sentence.

‘Section fourteen, level twelve,’ Adonti said abruptly to the lift, before continuing, ‘—so we’re unable to travel directly to the bridge of the
Lonori
from here.’

James looked over at Gulino, as the lift moved away. He stood there, unmoved.

Kalrea, why did Adonti talk to the lift?

Kalrea laughed.

No, he’s not mad. I’m sorry, James. I should have told you. Pojin lifts are voice-activated. You tell them where you want to go. With me here, there’s no need for you to give them instructions; I control them for you.

But Adonti said section fourteen, level twelve,
James thought.
The Aurora doesn’t have a section fourteen, let alone a level twelve.

You’re now travelling inside the Lonori. The pojin lifts allow personnel to travel directly between locations onboard any ships docked or linked together,
Kalrea informed him.
Security clearances permitting, of course.

The lift door opened.
Neat!
James thought.

They walked down a long corridor and through two sets of blast door, which separated two sections of the ship. James noticed the walls were heavily blackened. Three engineers were working on a large control panel.

James felt the charred wall.

‘What happened here, Adonti?’ he asked.

‘The blast door failed to operate. We lost fourteen people from the heat and radiation that swept through here.’

He pointed to a door at the end of the corridor.

‘On the other side of that door is all that remains of that section.’

‘What caused the damage?’ James asked.

He reached the door and peered through a small window.

Adonti looked at him strangely.

Gulino leaned over to him.

‘He’s just arrived from Earth,’ he whispered.

‘Er… That’s what the power of two plasma missiles can do,’ Adonti replied, even more confused.

James was stunned by the devastation. Everything was black. Eleven floors of the ship had been incinerated by incredible heat. Molten materials had cooled to leave large stalactites hanging from what was once the ceiling and the floor looked like a solidified oil slick.

‘How much combat experience does he have?’ Adonti whispered back to Gulino.

He passed his left hand over a red symbol adjacent to a pojin lift door.

‘Oh, at least one hour,’ he replied, trying not to laugh.

Adonti gulped.

The lift doors opened onto the bridge of the
Lonori
.

It was how James imagined the bridge of the
Aurora
should have been. The room was six times the size of the
Aurora’s
bridge with monitors and panels lit up around its walls. James counted twenty-three bridge personnel. Projected over a large flat black elliptical table in the centre of the room was a holographic image of the
Lonori
. James watched the image zoom in to show the internal docking bay, where two more frigates were manoeuvring into their clamping stations.

The Executive Captain was busy giving instructions to two lieutenants. She turned and gestured to Adonti, before finishing her conversation with the lieutenants. She talked into a headset while she walked over.

‘—in three minutes. Hello, James. I’m Executive Captain Isistia Hirniol.’

She held out her hand and smiled.

‘I believe this is how you greet someone from Earth,’ she said.

James shook it gently.

‘Captain…’

‘Please, when I address you as James, then you can call me Isistia. You do prefer to be called James, don’t you?’

‘Yes… Isistia,’ James replied shakily, surprised by Isistia’s directness.

‘I see you’ve poached two of my crew for this mission.’ Isistia said, acknowledging Gulino. ‘I need Gulino and Londuo to work in engineering for a few hours, until we reach our target.’

James just nodded.

Looking to Gulino, Isistia said,

‘Adonti will brief you on the reactor problems, commander.’

James and Isistia moved into the centre of the bridge, leaving Gulino talking with Adonti. James could sense there was some anxiety on the bridge.

The image over the table zoomed in on the
Aurora
.

‘Very impressive,’ Isistia commented. ‘I hope it’s as good as the Telqintre say. They’re expecting a lot from you.’

‘We’ll try not to let them down,’ James replied, proudly. ‘It’s a tough ship.’

‘It will need to be. The Captain’s briefing will be held in the Atenol room tomorrow, at ten hours.’

Isistia paused, while she received some information through her headset. She continued,

‘You will receive your final orders then.’

She looked over to Adonti.

‘Commander! Order the fleet to prepare for departure in one minute and to synchronise control!’

There was a faint rumble of the distant drives starting. Four people entered the bridge and sat down at their control stations. Adonti picked up his headset and moved to a nearby console. The main monitor illuminated. The image showed the leading destroyers moving away; the
Lonori
followed.

‘Take all long-range communication systems offline,’ Isistia ordered.

From one of the smaller monitors, just in front of him, James could see a view of Brinoli. It looked deserted, almost like it was being abandoned, with only four destroyers being left behind to guard it.