Victory in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 6) Read online

  “Are you in any danger?”

  “Nah. Me and Buster, we did a good check-through and fix. We’ll get the old girl moving.”

  “Give us an hour, Mack. I want to pull Griffin away before you fire anything up.”

  “No problem, Cap. We’ve got more things to fix.”

  An hour later, everyone strapped into their gravity chairs and Keiko jumped Griffin a thousand miles away.

  “Okay, Mack. We’re clear. Give Jewel a goose.”

  “Goosing now, Oh Captain,” Buster answered.

  Krag, for the umpteenth time, just shook his head.

  Krag, Keiko, Igaklay and Gopai watched as rocket fire exploded from the sixteen baffles comprising the stern of Jewel of the Stars. At first, the flames burned the cold of red. Slowly, as the heat rose, the flames become orange, then yellow. When they changed to purple, finally settling into a hot, electric blue, Jewel began to move. The four watched as the huge cruise liner fought its own inertia and began its slow acceleration, leaving its spot in space where it had floated for all those months.

  “Mack, any problems?”

  “I can’t say that she’s purring, but Jewel is moving, Cap. We can get her to the deep dark. I don’t want to push her, so it will take some time. We can get her there.”

  “Buster, how are you with the remote handling?”

  “Just fine, Captain. Thanks to Sue and Mack, I have complete control over Jewel of the Stars.”

  “Excellent. Bring her to a stop. I’m going to swing by and pick you up. Tribune Ambakai, Sergeant Boulos, have you been listening?”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “I want you to keep your patrols on Jewel while we inspect another ship.”

  “That will not be possible, Commander.”

  “Why not, Tribune?”

  “Princess Analyn has tasked us as your protectorate. Even this short period of time of not being able to perform that task has been a violation of that command. We must return to our commission.”

  “What is the minimum number of Guardsmen required to fulfil your responsibility?”

  “In a threatening situation, the entire squad, commander.”

  “In the current situation?”

  “I and two Guardsmen, commander.”

  “Would it be permissible to transfer command of five of your guardsmen to Sergeant Boulos?”

  “That would be permissible. Sergeant Boulos has proven to be a very competent leader.”

  “Who is your second in command?”

  “That would be Guardsman Negiani.”

  “Okay. Tribune Ambakai, you and two Guardsmen will return to your post on Griffin. Sergeant Boulos, you will assume command of the five remaining Guardsmen, with Guardsman Negiani as your second. Understood?”

  Krag received understanding yes’ in response.

  “Sergeant Boulos, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of Jewel of the Stars. Tribune Ambakai, do you have any other matters to discuss?”

  “As Corporal Faheem is the medical specialist for the Marines and is remaining on board Jewel of the Stars, one of the returning Guardsmen will be Guardsman Soraya, so that there will be a medical specialist aboard Griffin.”

  “I have another recommendation, Captain.”

  “Yes, Sergeant?”

  “Instead of Tribune Ambakai returning with two Guardsmen, I propose that one is substituted with a Marine. Since we are incorporating our two platoons, I believe that this would strengthen our interaction.”

  “I would be honored to have a Marine under my command, Sergeant Boulos.”

  “Lance Corporal Wadji is an excellent marksman. I recommend that he be imbedded in your squad.”

  “Yes, I have seen his training scores. They are excellent. My Guardsmen are endeavoring to match his skill. I accept your Lance Corporal Wadji, Sergeant Boulos.”

  Krag saw on his screen the very formal salute which Tribune Ambakai performed towards Sergeant Boulos.

  “Excellent suggestions and results, the both of you. We will be arriving for transfer shortly. Out.”

  Retrieving Griffin’s absent crew went without a hitch. Mack, Sue and Buster headed for the bridge. Tribune Ambakai, Guardsman Soraya and Corporal Wadji returned, settling into their bunks in Griffin’s cargo bay.

  “Keiko, have you got a bead on the location of our next ship?”

  “Yes, Captain. Just sailing, we will arrive in about two hours. I could jump to its proximity, but then we would still need to approach under our engines.”

  “Let’s just sail in, then.”

  “Aye, aye, Oh, Captain.”

  “Between you, Mack and Buster, the discipline on this ship has really gone to the dogs.”

  “No dogs here, Cap. Just on your home farm.”

  Mack received a look and grimace.

  True to her word, Keiko brought Griffin parallel to the next ship’s access hatch.”

  “Mack, suit up. Buster, get back into your jet pack.”

  A few minutes later, Krag heard over his implant, “I’m ready, Cap.”

  “Go check it out, you two. Same procedure as last time.”

  Krag, Keiko, Sue, Igaklay and Gopai watched the view screen. They watched as Buster jetted over, magnetically clamped himself to the hull of the ship and assumed an overwatch position. Mack followed, this time without any flips. Reaching the port, Mack studied the controls.

  “Captain, this looks like a standard civilian entrance.”

  Mack tapped in a code. The outer hatch slid open.

  “How did you know the code?”

  “What nobody knows is that all civilian locks have a maintenance override code. It makes it easier for service people to get in and work.”

  “Is that the same with the computer system?”

  “No. Sweet Sue will need to crack that.”

  “Okay. Give it a quick look and get to the cockpit. Tell me what we’ve got.”

  Everyone watched through Mack’s and Buster’s cameras. They saw the same that Mack and Buster saw.

  “Cap, this ship is a wreck. The engines are shot. At first glance, the hull integrity is suspect. This place is a death trap. I’m surprised that it got this far without killing everyone on board.”

  “From what I saw, I agree.”

  “Just leave it.”

  “No, Mack! I can fix it! I can make it brand new!”

  “Igaklay’s right, Mack. We need hulls. This is a hull.”

  “Yeah, but, how are we going to get her to Ballison?”

  Everyone paused while Krag thought.

  “Igaklay, according to Jewel of the Stars’ schematics, can this ship fit in her cargo bay?”

  Igaklay stared through the viewer and at the family recreational vehicle floating off Griffin’s nose.

  “Yes, Captain. That ship can fit through the large shuttle bay of Jewel of the Stars. We will need to angle it during its entry as its length is longer than the initial entrance tunnel. It will fit.”

  “I wouldn’t start this thing up on a bet, Cap. There’s no telling how much would go wrong or go boom.”

  “Then, you get to mount some hooks, Mack. We’ll strap her to Griffin and drag her back.”

  “Commander Marston?”

  “Yes, Tribune?”

  I and Guardsman Suraya have external vehicle training. We wish to contribute to this task.”

  “Suite up. There is welding equipment in the starboard locker. Also, a roll of cable. Once you’re ready, I’ll cut the gravity so that you can lug them out.”

  “At your command, Commander.”

  “Corporal Wadji, Sergeant Boulos stated that you have no EVA experience. Is that correct?”

  “Being aboard Griffin is the first time I have ever been in space, Commander.”

  “Well, there’s no time like the present to start learning. Are you up for that?”

  “It depends on how much you want me to learn, Commander.”

 
; “Just stand guard.”

  “If someone will show me how, I can do that.”

  “That’s the spirit. Buster, get back to Griffin. Help the Corporal into a suit. Then lead him through an egress, travelling the hull and anchoring.”

  “I am on it, Captain.”

  “No ‘Oh Captain’?”

  “Not this time, Captain. This is serious.”

  “Let’s go people. Let’s get this broke ship tucked in and ready to go.”

  Aboard Gazelle, Cencore

  “Jesse, get me Hawk.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  Jean, Captain of Gazelle, rested in her gravity chair, thoughts churning on what they had discovered in Cencore. A voice over the speakers broke her ruminations.

  “Gazelle Actual, Griffin actual here.”

  “Hey, Hawk. We need to talk.”

  “What about, Hornet?”

  “Cencore. The Mortek have taken over our shipyards and have cranked out a boatload of ships.”

  “How many?”

  “Almost another fleet. Six cruisers, twelve destroyers and forty-one frigates.”

  “Well, that tears it.”

  “Maybe not.”

  “How so?”

  “We think that almost all of them don’t have crews.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m sending you the intel now. Check out the energy signatures.”

  The three-woman crew of Gazelle waited for the transfer and reviewing of the data.

  “I think that you’re on to something. These energy readings show almost all of the Mortek ships sitting dormant.”

  “What do we do about it?”

  “Strike while the iron is hot.”

  “Or the steel is cold, Cap,” Mack interjected.

  “I see you are still having discipline problems, Hawk.”

  “No amount of beatings have improved anything, Hornet,” Krag laughed back.

  “You think that we should attack?”

  “That’s exactly what I am thinking.”

  “I’ve got ships scattered all over human space. Preceptor Igaklay, can you link all of the Stingers together with the quant-com?”

  “Easily, Captain Forsythe. We won’t have any video, though. Just audio.”

  “That will be fine.”

  ‘I’m connecting them now, Captain Forsythe.”

  Everyone waited a few moments.

  “Forsythe, here. Please check in if you hear me.”

  Captains of eleven ships, ten fast movers and one scout ship, all announced their presence.

  “Perfect. Thank you, Preceptor. Listen up, people. We have a situation. We might be going to war sooner than we planned.”

  “What have you got, Hornet?” Jack asked.

  “A fleet of empty Mortek ships. I’m sending the intel now.”

  Minutes passed as Igaklay transferred the data packs over the quant-com.

  Let me know when you have received the packets. Give them a look over. Focus on the energy signatures.”

  More minutes passed.

  “I think you’re right, Jean. Except for those twelve ships, they look shut down.”

  “I agree with Clara, Hornet. They look ripe for the picking.”

  “Hawk thought so too, Lizzy. I’m going to turn the meeting over to him.”

  “Thank you, Hornet. After studying the intel, I see that there aren’t any super dreadnaughts in the system. That’s good for us.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “No dreadnaughts in system, Jack. But there are seven cruisers.”

  “It looks like only one is powered up.”

  “I’ll take that one on. The rest of you, you’ve all fought cruisers before. We all know the procedure. We just need to stick to it.

  “Um, Hawk, Moonshot and Mariella aren’t going to be available.”

  “That’s right, Angela. You’re escorting Cruiser one to Tolimar. How much longer?”

  “Nine more days in the Grey, Hawk.”

  “Scotty, Heimdallr has just been volunteered.”

  “Yes! We get to micro some bugs!”

  “Cool it, Brooksy. I get to micro some bugs. You just tootle around the ship.”

  “You really know how to ruin a party, Toast.”

  “I see you have the same discipline problems as I do, Scotty.”

  “Children will be children, Hawk. We’ll be ready. Just say where and when.”

  “Hawk, we have another issue.”

  “This is?”

  “Captain Elizabeth Crowder, Lizzy. I don’t know about the rest of the Stingers, but I’m low on rockets.”

  “Your Gatling?”

  “No problems there. I’ve never used it. High Tail has full ammo boxes.”

  “Is that true for the rest of you?”

  Krag received positives from the rest of the captains.

  “Then we need a munitions run. Igaklay, could you tie in Fairstar, please?”

  Krag heard Igaklay’s avatar speak into the air. Then he heard a new voice.

  “Hey, Hawk. Addy, here.”

  “It’s good to hear from you. Where are you?”

  “Fairstar’s hanging out in Tolimar. I figured you might need some of Tolimar’s defense forces.”

  “You are right about that, Addy. But first, are you up for a munitions run?”

  “Do you plan on attacking some more Mortek ships?”

  “As soon as possible. The Mortek are building another fleet in Cencore. We want to shut it down before it becomes mobile.”

  “Sure. I can do that. Let’s see. Overnight jump to get to Ballison. Preceptor Igaklay, can you have the gravity rockets and Gatling ammunition ready for me when I get there?”

  “I have already begun production, Captain Adams. Through the quant-coms, I have inspected all the weapons stores for all of the stingers, Griffin and Heimdallr. I will have everything ready when you arrive.”

  “So, one day to load and another day back. Three days. Where do you want me to drop off the load, Hawk?”

  “Arium. Does that work for you, Hornet?”

  “Perfect. We’ll rearm there. Lizzy, Jack, Clara. Are you back from your scout trips?”

  “We’re all back, Jean.”

  “Lizzy, Clara, put together your intel packets and get them distributed. Did you find anything needing immediate attention?”

  “I think that Sasania is gone, Hornet. You all will see it in the data.” Everyone listening heard the sadness in Lizzy’s voice.

  “We’ll figure something out. Clara?”

  “From previous reports on Dorogon, nothing has changed. The Mortek own the skies and are invading Nye Nippon. It looks like the same number of ships as before are still there.”

  “Then the only hot spot is Cencore,” Hornet commented.

  “I’ll work up an attack plan. Also, during those three days, we need a meeting with the Tolimar Board. Hornet, could you meet us there, say, tomorrow?”

  “No problem. Gazelle will jump straight from here to there.”

  “Then, we all hang loose while Fairstar makes a munitions run. Griffin and Gazelle will get to Tolimar and work with the Board on taking back the shipyards. Heimdallr, find more hulls.”

  “Roger that, Hawk.”

  “Once everything is ready, we clean out Cencore.”

  “That works for me, hawk. Jack, you’re ex-navy. Captain’s Jack’s in charge while Gazelle is out-system. Is that alright with the rest of you?”

  Jean got affirmations from her Stinger Captains.

  “Meet you in Tolimar, Hawk.”

  “See you tomorrow, Hornet.”

  Aboard Heimdallr

  Before Igaklay gave the small section of Humanity its jump drive technology, the crew of Heimdallr had learned to survive the long bouts of nothingness which travelling space and gates entailed. Captain Scott, Lieutenant Torres and Junior Grade Lieutenant Brooksy had learned how to not go stir-crazy from boredom, inaction or rote repetition.

  Hour
s crept by while Brooks piloted Heimdallr on a slow track, sailing the orbit of the unpowered, lifeless, rejects of the Federacy’s survival fleet. Torres worked her console, endeavouring to discover the dormant ships sitting black in the deep dark. Scott spent his time monitoring his crew, reviewing Heimdallr’s logs, reading maintenance reports and searching the dark for Mortek threats.

  “Time’s up, Cap. This boy is baked. I need some rack time.”

  “I agree, Brooksy. Pull us out of this orbit and come to a dead stop. We’ll call it a day and pick up in the morning.”

  “Hold, Captain. I think I found another one.”

  “Point her out, Toast.”

  Torres worked her console and a sector of starry space jumped to the main view screen. She worked her board some more and a red circle outlined a section where no stars displayed.”

  “There, Captain. My readings indicate something metal, within the limits of a moderately sized ship.”

  “Brooksy, get us close. Toast, eyes on.”

  The three watched their screens as each performed their tasks. Shortly, Brooks got Heimdallr within sight of Torres’ discovery.

  “Looks like a freighter, Captain. About four times the size of Fairstar.”

  “Tag her. Then we get some shut-eye. Let’s see how many more we can find in the next three days.”

  Chapter 07

  Trotzig, Shar’s New Bar

  The dual booms of the two ships breaking the sound barrier caused the duelling patrols to look up into the Tolimarian sky. Master Sergeants Nelson and Stein allowed this breach in discipline as their two squads had been going at each other for the better part of the morning. Breathing heavily and recovering energy, the members of Tolimar’s defense force enjoyed their respite as the two ships landed.

  Hundreds of other Defensemen paused their digging of trenches, loading of Mortek bodies into the mass graves or liberally covering the four-legged corpses with lye. Drivers brought their skip loaders to a stop, momentarily stopping their tasks of shoving the mounds of dirt back into the now-occupied pits.

  In perfect formation, Griffin led Gazelle to Trotzig’s landing pads and, like dancers on a floor, set down, both sets of landing pads touching ground simultaneously. The two ships settled on their struts. Engines wound down. Hatches slid open and gangways dropped.

  Three women exited Gazelle. five humans, three Elonians, one android and one Ballisonian avatar exited Griffin. After collecting between the ships, the joined group moved towards Trotzig’s gates.