HADRON Incursion, Page 2

  Bontu looked nervous. “The rules only state one engagement at a time. However, it’s customary to—”

  Mace held up his hand as the Mawga cruiser in front of them took a hard hit. “Save it, Bontu.”

  Mace closed the comm. “Mr. Hobbs, when it’s our turn, I want you to head straight for the Kaachi ship. The moment they fire at us, veer off. We should have several seconds before the round arrives. They won’t shoot again, so take us right in and we blast them from up close.”

  Liam smiled as he looked around at the others on the bridge. “Indeed, I do like our captain!”

  An explosion on the Mawga cruiser had the admiral ordering a withdrawal. As the cruiser slowly turned away, Mace looked around the bridge at his ready crew.

  Johnny said, “All the marbles?”

  Mace nodded. “All the marbles. Mr. Hobbs, take us in.”

  Chapter 2

  *

  The Mawga cruiser moved forward in its normal whisper-quiet way.

  Coran Daughtry stood beside the central chair. “Waiting for your orders, Captain.”

  Mace gestured toward the weapons station. “You’ll direct the weapons from over there. I want a hit exactly where the Mawga made a hit on that fourth Kaachi ship. One shot and the Kaachi ship withdrew. I then want to repeat that shot on every ship we attack. If the first submits, we have first shot at the next one. Mr. Hobbs?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “As soon as we have a confirmed victory I want you to take us right up to the next ship. Mr. Daughtry will be ready for his next shot.”

  Hobbs replied, “Just so you know, sir, we may not have a full charge by the time we get there.”

  Mace nodded. “Understood. Time our trip so we arrive when the charge well is ready.”

  Liam grinned. “Yes, sir!”

  Mace opened a general comm to the rest of the ship. “This is your captain. We’re heading into battle. Seal all decks and bulkheads. Helmets should be locked and secure. Those with tethers at your stations, attach them now. We’ll do our best up here to avoid damage. If everyone does their part, I think we come out of this on top. And just to repeat what I’ve already said, I couldn’t have hand-selected a finer crew to work with. Now, it’s time we show them what fighting Humans is all about!”

  The comm closed.

  Johnny turned from his comm station. “A little cheesy, but not bad.”

  Mace replied, “Hey, it’s on-the-job training. Hopefully I’ll get better as we go.”

  Coran yelled, “We have incoming!”

  Liam Hobbs set a new waypoint, turning the Lousy only seconds before the full plasma charge arrived. As the crew watched on their monitors, the orange ball slipped past the port nozzle without making contact.

  Mace said, “Mr. Hobbs, take us to within a kilometer and let’s return the favor!”

  “Yes, sir! Estimate our arrival in eighteen seconds!”

  An image of the Kaachi ship showed on the massive bridge holo-wall. The long alien ship sat motionless as the Lousy approached.

  Johnny shook his head. “I can’t believe they’re going to just sit there. I’d be pushing the pedal to the floor.”

  Jane came over the comm. “Charge well shows full. All reactor readings are nominal.”

  Mace replied, “Thank you, Jane. We’ll be taxing those reactors in a few seconds. Keep your eyes peeled for problems.”

  Coran Daughtry hovered over his console. “Set to fire first plasma round in five… four… three… two… one… charge away!”

  Jasper let out a hoot from his sensor station. “Yeah! Precise hit. Exactly as ordered! Secondary explosions happening now! Whoa! She’s breaking in half!”

  The bridge display showed the long, tan boxy Kaachi warship violently ripping in two as at least one of its reactors was compromised.

  Mace barked out his next order as everyone stared at their console displays. “Mr. Hobbs, take us to target two please.”

  Liam Hobbs nodded as he set the next waypoint. “Twelve seconds, sir!”

  Jane said, “Charge well at 50 percent! Now 60!”

  Coran Daughtry followed: “Set to fire plasma round in five… four… three… two… one… charge away.”

  Jasper again yelled, “Direct hit! Secondary explosions! Kaachi ship is breaking in half!”

  Eight more Kaachi warships took devastating damage before the invaders withdrew. “This is Admiral Jenkel. We wish to negotiate our surrender and forfeiture of any claims to this territory.”

  Mace took a deep breath. “Surrender accepted, Admiral. You may send in rescue crews if you so desire.”

  The admiral bowed on the video feed. “May I have your name, sir?”

  Mace ordered the camera pointed at his chair. The Kaachi admiral stared with a look of shock.

  Mace stood. “We are Humans, Admiral Jenkel. This is our territory. Our planet. We will meet all coming invaders and punish them for their transgressions. Now, prepare your flagship to be boarded.”

  The admiral pulled back. “Sir, it is customary to—”

  Mace held up a hand. “Don’t care about your customs, Admiral. You invaded our space to attack our world. You’re lucky we don’t finish the job of protecting our homeland right here and now. As I said, Admiral, prepare to be boarded. Send the rest of your ships to rescue your survivors.”

  The Kaachi admiral again slowly bowed. “As you wish, Mister…?”

  Mace returned a stern and confident expression. “Mace Hardy of the Human Earth.”

  Johnny chuckled. “Human Earth…”

  Mace offered a dirty look in response.

  The Kaachi admiral turned and gave orders in his native language. Kaachi crewmen could be seen scurrying about behind him.

  Fatso Geerok opened a comm. “Captain Hardy! Congratulations on the victory! A hard fought and righteous effort. We have just completed an initial analysis of the battle and have found no clear violations of the rules. We will prepare to broadcast the recordings at the next available opportunity.”

  Mace nodded. “Thank you, Admiral. The training your people put together was thorough and I believe it showed. As to the recordings, I would ask that those not be broadcast until the latest possible opportunity.”

  The grin on Fatso’s face faded. “Might I ask why?”

  Mace crossed his arms. “We would like the opportunity to review them ourselves first.”

  Fatso rubbed his gray chin. “I suppose the rules don’t specify a deadline for transmission. They are sent so the outcome can be verified and any claims or disputes registered as open or resolved.”

  Mace nodded. “Good, then. We’ll hold the recordings until we’re ready to officially close out this fight.”

  The Lousy came to a stop beside the long, sleek flagship of the Kaachi invading force. A transfer tube was connected between the ships. Mace Hardy, Johnny Tretcher, and Coran Daughtry crossed over to the Kaachi vessel. The ultrathin, four foot tall Kaachi leader stood at the airlock with his sword held out in surrender.

  The captured admiral bowed. “Captain Hardy, with this sword I—”

  Mace shook his head. “Skip it. Keep the sword. I’m sure it has meaning to you. Just take us on a tour of the ship.”

  The admiral straightened with a smile. “By all means, Captain. Please, come this way.”

  The tour of the Kaachi ship ran on for twenty minutes. Other than form and layout, many of the features and functions were similar to that of the Lousy.

  Johnny said, “At least the bulkhead doors are taller, but now they’re narrow.”

  Coran replied, “Finding it difficult to be a monster Human, are you?”

  Johnny laughed. “I’ve had to squeeze through worse in my day. I’ll keep the height and weight advantage if it’s OK with you.”

  Coran nodded. “If only Jasper were here to add one of his quips.”

  Johnny shook his head. “If Jasper were here, he’d be picking these poor guys up and shaking them. Looks like Bontu wa
s right about the size of the aliens out here. We must be pretty intimidating to both species.”

  After a quick tour of the bridge, Mace nodded his head as he looked around at the stations. “OK. Looks good, Admiral. I think we’ll take it.”

  The admiral returned a stunned expression. “What? Take what?”

  Mace said, “This ship. What’d you call her again?”

  “The Grotta. Her name. Captain, it is not customary to—”

  Mace held up his hand. “Sorry, Admiral. The fight is over. Technically, we own all of your ships and your crews. You surrendered. Now, we’re a fair minded people. You attacked, you lost, you pay the price. And the price is this ship, and the rest of you leaving this territory. Do you accept these terms, Admiral?”

  The admiral lowered his head. “I suppose we have no choice.”

  Mace smiled. “Good. Then please take your crew over to the Lousy. We’ll transport you to one of your other ships. You will then leave this star system.”

  The Kaachi were rounded up and taken aboard the Human-run Mawga cruiser. The admiral and his crew were almost overcome with fear as they looked upon the monstrous aliens holding them captive. Twenty minutes later, a second transfer saw the Kaachi relocated to another vessel.

  Shortly after, with their rescue efforts ended, the admiral ordered his fleet to leave. The seven long tan ships slipped off into the blackness of space. There would be no portal opening to bring them back to the rift. The journey would take four years of their lives. Continued punishment for their loss.

  Johnny placed his hands on his hips. “OK, so… we have another ship. What do we do with it?”

  Mace replied, “I want a crew over here to pilot it. We’re taking it home. Mr. Daughtry, would you assume command of the Lousy for the ride back?”

  Coran grinned and nodded. “Aye, Captain. As you wish.”

  Fifteen crew, including the others from the cave, joined Mace and Johnny on the Grotta. Four hours later, the great ship was hovering a hundred meters above the treetops at Organ Cave. A Kaachi shuttle brought all but a skeleton crew, including Tres and Vanessa, to the ground. Bontu Montak landed a few minutes later. The Human crew from the Lousy and the Grotta stood around the gift shop porch.

  Bontu approached. “Mr. Hardy. Congratulations on an overwhelming victory pulled from certain defeat. You have certainly shaken things up with the Kaachi. They will be smarting for some time. However, even though we can find no evidence of rule violation, we expect a protest to be lodged with the Union. Seeing as this was an unusual battle, it’s not out of the question the Kaachi’s denial of claim will be waived. If that were to happen, there is the possibility of a larger force being sent. And that force would be unlikely to follow customary protocols.”

  Bontu glanced up at the Kaachi warship that hovered over their heads. “You have taken an admiral’s flagship. A highly unusual move, and one that is likely to inflame not only the Kaachi, but a number of their allies.”

  Mace replied, “I’ll be doing another recruiting tour to round up a crew for either this ship or the Lousy. What are the chances we can get you to make us more of these suits and helmets? I’d like to outfit my crews with the exosuits as well.”

  Bontu smiled. “I will have to consult with the admiral, but I believe he will be open to that request.”

  Johnny asked, “Mr. Montak, the gravity on this Kaachi ship doesn’t feel quite as strong as that of the Lousy. Is that why the Kaachi are thin? Their world has a lower gravity?”

  Bontu nodded. “Astute observation, Mr. Tretcher. The Kaachi world of Hathius is slightly larger that Earth, only with a less dense core. The gravity is 8 percent lower than that of this world.”

  Johnny nodded. “OK, sounds about right. Probably also why I kept bumping my head on those low ceilings. A little too much spring in my steps.”

  Jasper chuckled. “Or too much helium in your bulbous head.”

  Johnny flexed an arm in Jasper’s direction before looking back. “The Lousy feels much the same as here. The gravity on your world similar to Earth?”

  Bontu replied, “Yes. Within 3 percent. Our transition to Earth was rather easy as compared to many of our other worlds. Fully one third of the colonies in the Empire require us to wear the exosuit over our battle—”

  Johnny pointed. “You were about to call them battlesuits, weren’t you? I knew it. They were a bit much for just being in space.”

  Bontu sighed. “I refrained from using the term because of a fear of causing anxiety. I apologize if I have now done that which I have attempted to avoid.”

  Jane said, “We’d prefer that you just be honest. And now that we’re allies, that’s especially true.”

  The chancellor nodded. “Well said, Mrs. Tretcher.”

  Mace asked, “Something that has been bugging me. When all this started, several airliners crashed after their passengers and crews disappeared. Do you know what happened?”

  Bontu nodded. “I do. They were removed to test for health concerns regarding the EM storms. When it was determined no apparent health issues existed, they were returned to the places of their original destination. Unharmed, and not remembering being taken.”

  The Mawga chancellor soon left to consult with his admiral. A load of untainted nutrition bars was hauled up to the newly captured warship. Mace stood on the bridge with several of the others.

  “This ship needs a new name. A Human name.”

  Jasper grinned. “I christen thee the E.A. Collins.”

  Johnny laughed. “Sounds more like a ship to take around pumping bilge rather than a warship. What’s the E.A for?”

  Jasper scowled. “You’re the only one pumping bilge around here. And the E. A. is for Earth Alliance.”

  Jane said, “How about the Rogers? For Don and Cam?”

  Mace stroked his beard. “I like it. Fitting. And a reminder of why we’re here. To fight for everyone.”

  Liam Hobbs shrugged. “You’re the captain. And to honor a fallen Human is as good a reason to title a ship as any.”

  Coran Daughtry agreed. “A worthy title.”

  Coran turned toward Jasper. “Perhaps we name the admiral’s shuttle the E.A. Collins?”

  Jasper winked. “I could get on board with that.”

  Mace gestured toward the Kaachi consoles in front of him. “I’d like to get a team of Mawga on here to help us convert all this to English. If we’re going to do more than fly this thing in a straight line, we need to know what all the controls mean.”

  Jeff Moskowitz held up a hand. “I have another suggestion. This was the flagship. It has four reactors. Why don’t we see if we can acquire another four? I think we could do a lot better than having to wait six to eight seconds to fire a single cannon.”

  Mace replied, “I doubt the Mawga will give us any reactors. Having more than four is against the rules of the Union.”

  Johnny laughed. “Last I knew, we weren’t in any union. And I bet we could salvage a few reactors from those damaged Kaachi ships we left up there. They broke in half. Some may still have working reactors.”

  Jeff slowly nodded. “That might be possible. Although, salvaging parts from a ship in space may prove troublesome. We have no experience at such.”

  Mace pointed at Johnny. “Between you, Johnny, and David, we should have enough brains to figure something out. And if we do this, I don’t want the Mawga involved. Any talk of updates will have to be handled as top secret from now on. That means only those within this room will know anything about it. This could give us a huge advantage over the Mawga should the time come for us to part ways. Does anyone here oppose that strategy?”

  The room was silent.

  “Good,” said Mace. “First opportunity we get, we head back out there to check on what can be salvaged.”

  Mace opened a comm to Fatso Geerok. “Admiral, I was wondering about your damaged ships. How do you plan to carry out repairs?”

  The admiral passed an image of a new ship ov
er the comm. “This is one of our repair vessels, Mr. Hardy. With our victory, I’ve asked the Military Council to send one through to us. They are quite pleased with the outcome of the battle. I see no reason for that request to be denied.”

  Mace asked, “Will one repair ship be enough?”

  The admiral nodded. “Yes. The ship itself is really little more than a repair dock. Once in place, it unfolds into a facility that can house an entire cruiser, with atmosphere. And with the proper raw materials and the machinery aboard her, another dock can be constructed.”

  Jeff stepped forward. “What are the chances we could get one of those for our own use, Admiral? We might want to make a few updates to the Rogers.”

  “The Rogers?”

  “Yes, sir. We named the captured ship after some of our fallen brethren. We’re interested in converting the language aboard to English. And we’d like to make a few modifications to accommodate our larger frames. What are the chances of also getting some assistance from a few of your scientists and engineers?”

  The admiral smiled. “Glad to see you taking the initiative. I will have a team assembled as soon as possible. When would you like to begin?”

  Mace replied, “Send them whenever they are ready, Mr. Geerok. And thank you for the support.”

  The portly Mawga bowed. “I shall see to it that you have assistance in short order, Mr. Hardy. After all, we are allies in the defense of this planet, are we not? And… I am in your debt, Mr. Hardy. You managed a great victory over our enemy when all was surely lost.”

  Chapter 3

  *

  Jasper was given the honor of piloting the E.A Collins on her first mission. They flew first to Charleston. On the way, with inertial dampeners on maximum, the shuttle zipped over the contours of the land.

  Johnny shook his head. “Let’s hope he doesn’t crash us into the side of a hill before we get there.”

  Jasper grinned. “Sixty-five years of driving a car and not one accident. I’ll put that record up against anyone on this shuttle.”

  Johnny gave a half laugh. “Yeah, well, that would be because you’re older than Mace and me combined.”