Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
UNCOMMON PURPOSE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
FIRST COMES DUTY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 72
CHAPTER 73
CHAPTER 74
CHAPTER 75
SILENT RUNNING
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 72
CHAPTER 73
CHAPTER 74
CHAPTER 75
CHAPTER 76
CHAPTER 77
CHAPTER 78
CHAPTER 79
CHAPTER 80
CHAPTER 81
CHAPTER 82
CHAPTER 83
CHAPTER 84
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialog are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 P J Strebor
Published by Space Dock
www.space-dock.co.uk.co.uk
Edited by Teresa Edgerton and Gary Compton
Cover Art by Gary Compton
Uncommon
Purpose
by
P J Strebor
Book One
Hope Island Chronicles
Published by Space Dock
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
No one makes this journey alone. I know, I’ve tried it solo and it didn’t work out too well.
Many thanks to Teresa Edgerton who was the first professional to discover my lack of brilliance. We didn’t always agree but when she’s right, she’s right. Thanks TE.
My appreciation to J Scott-Marryat as well. He is a great editor and critiquer. A man of rare insight and common sense.
Also grateful thanks to my friends at SFF Chronicles who were always there with encouragement and advice. Their support helped me through the tough times. You guys rock.
And finally, to Gary Compton at Tickety Boo Press for a marvelous cover and the editorial team who helped put the final spit and polish on my story.
UNCOMMON PURPOSE
CHAPTER 1
It is better to die on your feet than live on
Emiliano Zapata. Mexican reformer & revolutionary (1879 - 1919)
Time: 3rd January, 305 ASC. (Athenian Standard Calendar)
Position: Francorum Sector. League space. Tunguska Fault.
Status: Independent freighter Bellinda, en route to planet Iberia.
Nathan Telford’s heart beat furiously as the cold grip of fear tightened around him. On his screen he tracked the incoming barrage, his eyes widening as his dread intensified. Bellinda’s few remaining defensive pulsar turrets fired at the unstoppable wave of destruction but managed to stop only two of them. He averted his eyes from the screen as the rest of the torpedoes ploughed into Bellinda's dying shields. Nathan’s small hands gripped the edge of the workstation as the old freighter shuddered under the impact of nuclear detonations.
Nathan blinked to clear his vision and stared at the screen. Several spouts of mist showed where the shields had failed and air escaped from fissures in the hull. Parts of her armor cladding had terrible gaping wounds exposing her vulnerable skin. Many of her bow and chase DPTs were smashed and useless.
“Stop it, stop it,” he implored. “Please God, just let us go.”
In answer to his pleas, the enemy ships fired another salvo of torpedoes. He winced, drawing back from the screen. “Stop it,” he screamed.
Bellinda lurched violently under the assault. His sweaty hands lost grip on the workstation and he was thrown to the deck.
***
"I don't suppose they've closed to pulsar range?" Celia Telford asked.
"Negative Captain," Mary said from the tactical station. "They're sitting well outside of our defense envelope. They don't want to destroy us."
At the first officer's console, Lucas snorted. Of course the Imperial Navy ships did not want to destroy Bellinda. She represented a great prize for the Pruessens. Her cargo of high tech appliances would fetch a pretty penny for the E boat crews. Not to mention capturing a serviceable freighter along with her entire crew. Yes, the bastards must be salivating over that prospect.
“They’re launching fighters,” Mary said. “Six of them, Cobra class.”
“Weapons Officer, are we ready to bake?”
“Aye, skipper,” Salome said, “all pulsars are fully charged and the energy buffers are cloaked behind our new force field.”
“Excellent. Stand by.”
“The Francs are supposed to have a heavy cruiser and two destroyers in orbit to protect the Iberian system,” a bitter voice snarled from the Nav Station. “Typical, bloody unreliable Francs.”
“Save it for later, David,” Lucas snapped, even though the same thought had struck him.
Lucas tracked the fighters as they streaked in, line abreast, oblivious to any danger. The two remaining stern turrets went first, quickly followed by one guarding the bow.
“Captain,” Mary said, “they’re coming about for another pass.”
“Very well.”
The turn completed, the Cobras charged into Bellinda’s waiting guns.
“Weapons Officer, stand by … aaaand, fire!”
Twin beams of blue-green fire struck out from Bellinda’s bow. Two fighters exploded in a brief flurry of fire.
“Yeah, get em,” Lucas hissed and slapped his flat palm against his console.
Bellinda fired again and again. As they passed her, Salome engaged the stern pulsars, destroying another and damaging one more.
As the remaining fighters limped home a cheer went up from the crew.
Lucas sighed.
His mother often talked about Telford's luck. Her words echoed in his mind as the ship shook under a fresh volley of torpedo strikes. "Telford's luck is rarely ambivalent." On a scale between good and bad luck, stumbling onto a squadron of Imperial Navy E boats certainly qualified in the latter category. They had handled their share of headhunter attacks in the past but E boats were another, more dire proposition. Lucas feared that the family's luck had finally run out. They were caught too far from the nearest hyper ingression point to escape into hyperspace. To attempt to match harmonics this far inside the system would be a death warrant for everyone aboard.
More torpedoes fell against Bellinda’s weakened shields.
"Captain, our shields are down," Amy reported from the Damage Control Station. "Shield blisters twenty-eight through fifty-two have been destroyed. All chase DPTs are gone. Stern pulsars gone. Grav maneuvering plating down to twenty-three percent. We have an imminent hull breach running along sections port twenty-eight through to thirty-five."
“Seal off those sections,” the captain said. “If you can.”
“That’s it,” Lucas whispered.
Mary glanced from her readouts and into her husband’s eyes. A short despairing gesture. Lucas nodded.
The captain's shoulders sagged under the weight of her next decision. They had held out for as long as humanly possible in the forlorn hope that the Francs would come to their rescue. That faint possibility was now all but gone. The captain's next decision would be mortally significant.
Lucas felt ice run through his gut at the very thought of making such a decision. In his mother's hands lay an impossible choice. Surrender her ship to spare her family and crew or refuse to capitulate to a life of slavery and blow the reactor.
"We’re being hailed, captain."
The captain pulled herself upright and straightened her shoulders.
"Put it through, Jack." Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
On his linked console, the face of a middle-aged Pruessen Naval officer appeared. The officer’s unblinking blue eyes were a perfect match to the hard, unyielding line of his jaw.
"I am Captain Hartman of the Imperial Naval vessel E516."
Lucas noted his stern, uncompromising tone. Not the sort to bluff.
"I order you to come about and prepare to be boarded. You are now a prize of the Pruessen Empire."
"Captain Celia Telford of the Athenian Independent Trading vessel Bellinda. Captain Hartman, can you guarantee the safety of my family if I comply with your order?"
The Pruessen’s chin rose minutely. "We are regular navy, captain, not headhunters. I can guarantee you safe passage into Pruessen space free from interference by… that element. After that, your fate is in the hands of the good Lord."
Slavery. The very word conjured the most vile of images to any free-thinking Athenian.
The captain looked about the bridge gauging the feel of her senior officers, her crew, and her family. Lucas noted the fear that stood clearly on their faces, but also the determination not to yield. Yet, would they consider death to be a preferable option to slavery? And not only their deaths, but that of their families. Lucas hoped that he would never have to make such an agonizingly crucial decision. Let alone on behalf of a family and crew of eighty-nine men, women and children. Three generations of Telfords gone in a white flash. Who could make such a decision?
The main hatch opened and Nathan stepped onto the bridge. He strode quickly to the tactical station and strapped into the jump seat beside his mother.
Lucas stared at Mary, who shrugged. This was no ordinary seven-year-old. Nathan knew perfectly well what was going on. Lucas would bet a month's pay that Nathan had been following the battle from the moment he had ordered him not to do so. In the same breath he wanted to shout at his son to return to their quarters, and to hug him to his chest one last time.
Nathan stared at each of his parents and then his sister. He spoke to his mother but Lucas could not hear the words. He’s where he should be. With his family.
"Captain Telford," Hartman said, "I need your answer."
Celia Telford faced the enemy, the shadow returning to her eyes.
"I accept your conditions, Captain Hartman. We are coming about now and will open our main boat bay for your marines once we have reached zero accel.
"Did you hear that, Helm?"
"Aye-aye, captain," Rebecca replied.
Hartman’s face relaxed moderately.
"Captain, may I be excused for a few minutes to inform my crew?"
"Of course, Captain Telford."
"Thank you," Celia said, around an exhausted sigh. Yet, as the image disappeared from Lucas’ screen, their captain reemerged. "Jack, put me through to the chief engineer."
It took only a moment for the chief engineer to respond.
"Aye, captain?"
"John, we are expecting guests shortly. Are you ready?"
"Just waiting for you to give the word." John Telford sounded remarkably calm, considering the implacable circumstances.
"Good, stay on line. With any luck one of their ships will get cocky and come into range. At least I hope so." She grinned wolf-like at the surrounding family and crew. "It would be nice to take at least one of the bastards with us."
"We are at zero accel, captain."
"Very well, Becky, stay icy."
Rebecca nodded, her eyes remaining fixed to her readouts. She, like many of the crew, was ex-Athenian navy.
"Boat bay doors are fully open," Lucas said. "Are you going to wait until the marines are onboard?"
"I'll play it by ear."
"Why don't we close the gap to the leading ship?" Nathan asked his mother.
Mary brushed the strand of hair from over Nathan’s right eyebrow. Lucas forced a smile. All too often the seven-year-old acted like an obstinate middle-aged man. Yet it could not be denied that his acceptance of the current circumstances and his determination to never compromise were true Telford characteristics. Lucas could tell that Nathan fought the crushing fear even knowing the end was near. He knew what family obligation demanded of him.
"It’s up to the captain," Mary said.
Lucas thought it was a pretty good idea.
"E516 calling, captain," Jack reported.
"Put them through." The Pruessen’s image steadied on her screen, his forehead furrowed. "Yes, Captain Hartman?"
"Captain Telford our scans show that you have one active pulsar remaining on your ship. Disengage it immediately."
"My apologies, captain," Celia said. "I assumed with the shellacking you gave us that all of our weapons were gone. I will attend to it immediately." She drew her hand across her throat and the image disappeared. A tired smile crossed her face as she turned to her first officer. "Nice try son, but you better close it down."
Lucas returned the gesture and nodded once.
"Jack, pipe me through the ship please."
"Open channel, captain."
"Good evening family. Well, it would seem that the old Bellinda has finally run aground. We have been in tight fixes before and talked of this possibility on many occasions and so, now the time has come. Take a few minutes with your loved ones to say goodbye, make peace with the universe and remember that death is only a new awakening."