Into the Black: Odyssey One (46 page)

“Steph,” he said as the Commander reached the corner.

Stephanus paused, glancing back. “Sir?”

“I understand your worry,” Eric told him simply, “but you need every able body you can get. If I had my way, I’d be out there, too.”

“I don’t think we’re quite that bad off, begging the Captain’s pardon,” Steph replied with a half smirk.

“Wise ass,” Weston shook his head, turning away.

“Always, Sir.”

*****

“Captain on the Bridge!”

“At ease,” Weston said, accepting his seat back from Commander Roberts. “Status report?”

“The last of the refugees will be departing in the next twenty minutes, Sir.”

“All right, Mr. Daniels, have you prepared the course information, I requested?”

“Aye, Sir,” Lt Daniels replied, tapping out a command on the navigation board. “Using nothing but thrusters will be tough on the ship, Sir, but we can mount a successful intercept if we use minimal Cee Emm generation.”

“How minimal?” Weston’s voice was clipped.

“Eight percent, Sir. For the first hour of the burn only.” was the instant response.

Weston grimaced.

The Cee Emm technology was what allowed both the heavy lift capability of the Odyssey’s shuttles, and the lethal speed of the Archangels, not to mention the acceleration of the Odyssey herself. The downside of the technology was that it created a rather large ‘sinkhole’ in normal space that was the equivalent of a searchlight to someone with eyes to see it.

It was also a large part of what kept the acceleration from plastering the crew, over the rear bulkheads of the ship. Since their mass was reduced along with the rest of the ship, their personal inertia was affected by the laws of the little ‘pocket reality’ that the Odyssey dragged around with her, at all times.

“I’m sorry Sir; it’s the best I can do with the time restraint.”

Eric nodded absently, still studying the data.

Daniels was right, without eight percent they’d never be able to intercept the ships far enough from the planet to reasonably ensure that they could prevent more landers from being dispatched.

“All right. Approved,” Weston said, signing off on the order. “Lamont?”

Susan Lamont stiffened, “Sir?”

“Status of the preparations?”

“We’re ready to run silent, Captain,” she replied with a satisfied tone.

Eric nodded, not noting the sharp look Commander Roberts threw across the Bridge, as he noted the use of the term.

“All right. Let’s test the system then, while we still can,” Weston said, settling in. “Engage ‘black hole’ stealth systems. Kill all unnecessary power use. Make us invisible.”

“Aye-Aye, Captain.”

*****

“Admiral!”

The unseemly shout jerked Rael Tanner around in surprise, pulling him away from his status board. “What?”

“The alien ship, Admiral…, she’s gone,” The technician’s face was pale.

“She left Orbit already?”

“No, Sir. She just…, we lost visual, Sir.”

“What about sensors?” Rael frowned, reaching over the man’s shoulder and tapping in commands.

Nothing. Every system he checked said the same thing, there was nothing there. He accessed the logs with a few quick taps and blinked as he watched the oddly configured ship simply vanish.

He was still staring at the screens when someone else shouted, this time just in surprise.

“What is it??” He looked over.

“Sir… I… I think they’re still there,” The young woman said, pointing at the screen.

Rael looked at the screen where she was pointing for several seconds, wondering what the woman was talking about and he saw it himself. There was a black spot in the middle of the screen where the ship was supposed to be, one that moved against the background of stars as it orbited the world.

“Fascinating,” he whispered, a touch of a smile showing on his lips.

“Admiral?”

“They’re still there, Ithan,” he said absently, pointing out the screen. “Watch the stars.”

With that comment, Rael turned away, heading over to another console.

“Casa,” he said to the young woman seated there. “Active scan, if you please.”

“Yes, Admiral,” she replied, tapping out a command.

*****

“We’re being scanned, Captain,” Waters said, looking up from his console. “All across the spectrum, very high power.”

“Source?”

“The planet, Sir.”

Weston nodded. “Good. That means they noticed something when we shifted. Let’s hope our signal is low on their systems.”

“Aye Sir.”

“Lamont?”

“Sir,” Susan Lamont responded.

“Have all decks made ready for acceleration drills,” Weston told her. “We’ll have a rough ride for the first hour or so.”

“Aye Sir.”

“And in the meantime,” he turned back to the front of the Bridge, “put me through to Milla and the Admiral.”

“Aye-Aye, Captain.”

*****

“Incredible,” Admiral Tanner said in a low voice. “They really are there, aren’t they?”

“Yes Admiral, but their signal has dimmed considerably. Even knowing where to focus our sensors, all we get is a marginal return,” the technician told him. “Admiral… if they wished to sneak up on any of our ships…”

“Our Captains would have to know that they were coming, to have a chance of spotting them,” Tanner finished for her. “Let us hope that the Drasin are the same.”

“Yes Admiral.”

“Admiral…”

Tanner turned and saw that Milla was approaching in her impressively-sized armor. He smiled crookedly, “May I assume that Captain Weston wishes to make contact?”

“He does, Admiral.”

Tanner took a moment to straighten his clothing stepping into the full view of the armor.

“Captain Weston,” he nodded gravely.

*****

Eric Weston hid a smile as he watched the Admiral adjust his clothing before stepping around to the front of the armor and wondered briefly if he should inform the man that Infantry Special Warfare Armor had three hundred and sixty-degree sensor coverage.

Maybe another time,
he thought as Tanner spoke.

“Captain Weston,” the small man began gravely.

“Admiral Tanner,” Weston permitted himself a slight smile. “May I assume that you noticed a change in our current stance?”

“You may,” Tanner replied simply.

“Might I enquire as to the effect?” Weston asked softly.

“Your vessel vanished almost entirely from our passive sensors,” the small man replied, his lip twisted slightly as he went on, “and even though we knew your location, our active sensors were unable to uncover more than a shadow of your previous signature.”

There was a low breath of relief that passed through the Bridge, but Eric ignored it in favor of masking his own low breath of relief. He nodded, “that was what we were hoping for, Admiral. Now, if only the Enemy finds us equally difficult to see.”

“One can only hope.”

“Indeed,” Eric replied. “We’ll be leaving Orbit shortly, Admiral.”

“May I enquire as to your plans?”

“Wouldn’t do you any good, Admiral,” Weston replied, “and I’m afraid that we don’t have the time.”

“I understand, Captain,” Tanner replied. “In that case, I wish you the very best and…”

“And?” Weston blinked, hearing… something in the other man’s tone.

Tanner paused, looking like he wanted to say more, than shook his head. “It is nothing, Captain. May the Maker journey with you.”

“And you,” Weston replied automatically, as he always did when someone wished him well in one way or another.

The signal was dropped and Commander Roberts leaned over.

“Just as long as we don’t have to meet our ‘Maker’ before he journeys with us.”

Eric stifled a snort and shook his head, glancing at the normally reserved Commander. “Why Commander Roberts, I do believe, you just made a joke.”

Roberts looked evenly back at him, “I wish I had.”

Eric shivered slightly, but nodded. “Right. Sound General Quarters.”

“Aye Captain. General Quarters.”

“And get me Major Brinks, if you please.”

“Aye-Aye, Captain.”

*****

“Brinks,” the big man rumbled into the comm, keeping most of his attention on the squad that was working on clearing out a large promenade or something similar.

“Major, how are things?”

“They’re coming along, Captain.”

“Good. I’m calling to inform you that we will be leaving Orbit shortly.”

“Understood,” Brinks paused. “Godspeed, Captain.”

“And you, Major.”

“Yes, Sir. Brinks out.”

*****

The lights across the ship flickered, came back in muted red, as the ship-wide inter-comm began speaking over the commotion.

“General Quarters. This is a call to general quarters.”

“You heard the lady!” Chief Corrin yelled over the ruckus. “Get movin ’fore I have your hides pinned to the bulkheads!”

“All stations, secure for acceleration. This is no drill. I say again, this is no drill.”

Corrin paused in mid-step, slapping a crewman on the shoulder. “Strap that PDA down, Rickman! You want it to bat you upside the head!? And do up that restraint good and proper!”

She grabbed the seat restraint and cinched it tight enough to bruise the man, growling the whole time. “I swear to God, all of you, if I catch you in the medical bay with a broken leg because you fell out of your damned chair, I’ll wring your necks good and proper!”

There was no verbal response, but before she moved onto the next station, they had all triple checked their belts.

*****

“All stations report ready, Captain.”

“And our current Orbit?”

Daniels looked up, “we’ll pass the meridian in two minutes, Sir. At that point, we’ll be completely behind the planet and should be shielded by its mass.”

“Very well,” Weston nodded. “Mr. Daniels, you may execute when ready.”

“Aye-Aye Captain,” Daniels tapped in a command and watched the course change. On the screen, a diagram of the system ticked by, moment by moment, until the navigator leaned forward with an eagerness that amused Weston, mildly. “Firing thrusters Now!”

The big ship began to vibrate, a low rumble filling the air around them and they felt the force shove them back into their seats. For the first few seconds, it was a gentle pressure, then it climbed until the acceleration on the Bridge had equalized with the centrifugal force of the habitat and they all felt like they were half laying down as the Bridge angled upwards.

“One Gravity Acceleration,” Daniels announced. “Increasing power in fifteen seconds.”

The countdown was silent, but poignant, as the Odyssey poured on the power. The big ship looped low around the planet, almost skimming the atmosphere as the ship followed the course Daniels had laid in, using the planet’s gravity, as part of his calculations.

Then the second stage thrust kicked in and they all felt the Bridge flip end for end around them, as the force slapped them back even harder.

“Crossing the second meridian in forty-five seconds,” Daniels’ voice was strained this time, but he managed to speak clearly as his hands worked the controls. “Main thrust cut off in forty.”

Eric didn’t say anything as he watched the numbers on the Captain’s personal display, noting that the entire ship’s company was currently pulling over three Gees due to the firing of the powerful main engines, without full compensation from the Cee Emm generators.

“Main thruster cutout!”

The sudden lack of acceleration was like being thrown forward in a braking vehicle, but the seat restraints held everyone in place as the heavy rumble faded, leaving only a bare hint of its former glory in the air, as everyone started breathing a little easier.

“We’re clearing the Meridian…, now,” Daniels said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice as the Odyssey whipped around the planet and flung itself out into the depths of space once more.

Chapter 31

“Well that’s it, gentlemen,” Major Brinks said as the connection to the Odyssey blinked off. “We’re on our own from here on out. I hope everyone packed their underwear.”

A few muffled chuckles greeted his words, but for the most part, the men on the Link were too busy fighting, running, or hiding to respond.

Brinks checked his HUD before leaping the forty-meter gap to the next building, where he landed with a single solid smack the nano-servos in his armor absorbing the energy as he flexed his legs. The situation wasn’t as bad as all that actually, for the most part, the drones were being mopped up whenever they stuck their disturbing little mandibles out to be seen.

That was the good news.

The bad news was that fewer and fewer of them were sticking their disturbing little mandibles out to have them shot off. Brinks might have considered that a good sign, that perhaps they were cleaning the last of them out, but judging from the reports he was getting back through the Link, it was obvious that the survivors were still numerous. They were just getting smarter.

Nothing worse than an enemy who’s a quick learner,
the Major grumbled as he stepped over to the edge of the Scraper he was standing on, and looked down at the public promenade below.

*****

The firefight was raging all around him, as Sean Bermont held the trigger of his rifle down and poured the last of his magazine into the maelstrom. The whining crack of the bullets was joined by the pure white contrails, as they accelerated across the huge promenade, twisting and turning as they locked in on the heat sources on the other side and adjusted their courses.

He kept moving, as the now empty magazine hit the ground at his feet. He didn’t flinch, or even notice, except in a visceral way, when a ray of energy blew up a stone column only a few feet away.

Sean slapped the mag into the receiver, as he and the others continued to approach through the enemy fire. Bermont lifted the weapon to his shoulder and held the trigger down again.

It wasn’t a firefight as much as a rout, when it came to dealing with the drones that came out into the open. The enemy weapons were technically impressive, their whining power enough to actually cause solid stone to explode when the beams intersected it, but the M-112’s were their equal in effectiveness, if not technical prowess and the battles between the two were short, furious and final.