Ep.#6 - "Head of the Dragon" (The Frontiers Saga) (55 page)

“And your other daughter?”

“She is doing wonderfully, as she is too young to understand what has happened. I want to thank you for dispatching a jump shuttle to bring them from Corinair. I cannot tell you how much that meant to me.”

“I only did so to protect them,” Nathan admitted. “There may be others who felt as Jalea did about your deceptions, just as there may be members of your own nobility that may oppose the steps you are taking. I felt it best that they were here with you, where you could protect them.”

“Yes, thank you again, Nathan. That was very wise of you.”

“I was wondering, Tug…” Nathan paused a moment. “Is that what I should be calling you? Tug? Or should I call you Casimir?”

“I have been Tug longer than I was Casimir,” he told him. “Tug will suffice.”

“I was wondering if you ever confirmed the recall of that battle group.”

“Yes. Two days ago, Josh and Loki took the Falcon out to confirm that the commanders of those ships were in compliance with my orders. Rest assured; they are on their way back and will arrive in two weeks time. However, just between you and I, we will be sending the Falcon out every few days to check on their progress.” Tug winked. “I do not yet trust the nobles.” Tug poured himself a glass of water as well. “But what of you and your ship, Captain? What are your plans? You will be returning to Earth, will you not?”

“Yes, as soon as your people have finished enough of the repairs for us to safely get underway.”

“There is so much more we could do for your ship, Captain. Perhaps if you could see your way to remaining another month, we could provide you with significant weapons upgrades, shields…”

“A generous offer,” Nathan interrupted, “but we have been away for far too long.”

“But you must allow me to be of greater assistance to your cause,” Tug insisted.

“You have already completely rearmed my ship, replaced all my rail guns, and given me a full complement of fighters and utility craft. Soon, the holes in my hull will be repaired as well. You have done enough, my friend.”

“But I want to do so much more,” Tug insisted.

“Why?”

“Because there is still something that I must ask of you, Captain Scott.”

“What is it?”

“Let us join the Alliance.”

“The Karuzari are already members…”

“No, not the Karuzari. They no longer exist as a nation. I’m talking about Takara, Nathan. Let us join the Alliance. In a few months, we can have several jump ships ready to come to your aid should you need us.”

“It is not that easy, Tug. Earth is a great distance away, and the journey between our worlds is long.”

“Ah, yes. I read Doctor Sorenson’s report as well. Do you really believe that the Campaglia’s ZPED is what caused you to come out of your super-jump at that particular moment?”

“It makes sense, I guess. To be honest, Tug, sometimes I’m not sure what to believe.”

“You know, if Jalea were alive, she would insist that your arrival was divine intervention.”

“Yes, she probably would.”

“And what do you think?”

“As I said, I don’t know what to believe.”

Tug leaned back in his chair again, taking in a deep breath as he stared at the landscape. “How many jumps do you believe will be required to make the journey back to Earth?”

“Abby believes that by combining several of the smaller ZPEDs, the ones used in the newer comm-drones, we might be able to increase our jump range to as much as fifty light years. If it works, it could take as few as twenty jumps.”

“Would the recharge time be extended?” Tug wondered.

“She does not believe so, as the majority of the energy for the longer jumps would be coming directly from the ZPEDs. Even at ten percent output, they produce more than enough energy for a significant jump. She still needs to run simulations to determine the output level at which the devices begin to interfere with the jump fields.”

“It is not a super-jump, but it will get you home more quickly.”

“If all goes well, we could make the journey in about two weeks. Given the amount of time required to complete our hull repairs, as well as the time already spent in the Pentaurus cluster, we would be arriving back in our own system in about the same amount of time as if we had left the cluster immediately after our arrival.”

“I am sorry that you could not get home more quickly, Nathan. But you and your people have done a wonderful thing here. You have liberated billions of people. More importantly, you have reconnected us to the place of our birth, the birth of all humanity. What you have done will change the course of history in this part of the galaxy. Hopefully it will change history in your part of the galaxy as well.”

A properly dressed gentleman entered from the hallway. “Lunch is ready, sire.”

“Thank you,” Tug told him. “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat,” Nathan told him. “Besides, I believe there are still a few things about you that I do not yet know.”

“Indeed there are, Captain,” Tug laughed, “and a promise is a promise.”

* * *

“What did you call this?” Vladimir asked between bites.

“Dollag-something,” Nathan answered, not remembering the exact pronunciation. “It’s this big, hideous looking creature that lives on one of the moons orbiting one of their gas-giants. Scary looking thing with fangs and big flapping jowls and a cry that can split your ear drums. Why anyone would try to figure out how to cook this thing is beyond me.”

“Sounds like they must have been very hungry at the time,” Vladimir decided.

“Probably. Anyway, it’s considered a delicacy on Takara.”

“I can see why. The flavor is amazing. How do they cook it?”

“Apparently, you have to roast it for several days at low temperatures to breakdown all the sinew and stuff. Not an easy task. Tug sent us a locker full of the stuff, all precooked and ready to eat. He said if we freeze it, we can enjoy it for weeks.”

Vladimir finished his serving and pushed his plate back, leaning back in his chair. “I am full,” he announced with satisfaction.

“You should be,” Nathan joked. “You ate half a Dollag.” Nathan handed him his data pad. “Here, Tug sent me a picture of what they look like.”

The hatch swung open, and Commander Taylor entered the captain’s ready room. “I’m sorry, sir. Am I interrupting?”

“No problem,” Nathan assured her, waving her in as he also pushed his plate back.

“What’s that horrible smell?” she asked as she entered.

“Dollag,” Vladimir announced as he wiped his mouth.

“That’s food? It smells awful.”

“I imagine Dollag is not your cup of tea, Commander. It’s not a plant.”

“It may not even qualify as an animal,” Vladimir stated as he turned the data pad from side to side, viewing the picture of the Dollag and trying to determine which way was up.

“What can I do for you, Commander?” Nathan asked.

“The last of the Takaran repair teams have departed, sir, and all of our wounded that were being cared for on Takara have been moved to medical for the return trip to Corinair. Lieutenant Commander Nash reports all hands are on board and ready for departure.”

“Were they able to release Captain Waddell?” Nathan wondered.

“Yes, sir. He was deemed stable enough for transport a few days ago,” Cameron informed the captain. “Actually, I don’t think they had much choice in the matter,” she added with a smile.

“I’m not surprised,” Nathan said. “How are we doing on supplies?”

“Nearly full up, sir. Ammo, ordnance, consumables, medical: everything is fully stocked. We’ve even got six fabricators set up in the hold and plenty of raw material to feed them. We’ll be picking up additional food stores when we reach Corinair. Apparently, the Ancotans have been providing considerable aid to Corinair to assist in her recovery.”

“Yeah, I had a feeling they’d jump onboard once the shooting stopped.” Nathan turned to Vladimir. “How are we doing on repairs?”

“Everything that must be done in port has been completed. All that is left are the little things that we can handle while under way. Doctor Sorenson and her Takaran specialists will be experimenting with both the ZPEDs from the comm-drones as well as the upgrades to the jump drive while en route to Earth.”

“How are the Corinari handling Takarans on the crew?” Nathan wondered.

“As expected, there is some tension,” Cameron admitted, “but I don’t foresee any serious problems. Master Chief Montrose will keep his people in line, as will Lieutenant Montgomery.”

“What’s your read on Montgomery?” Nathan asked.

“Professional, confident, willing to learn. I think he was a good choice.”

“He came highly recommended by Tug. One of the few noble families that he trusts. I have to admit, though, it still makes me a bit uneasy to have them aboard.”

“I agree, but if we’re going to make use of all the Takaran technology Tug uploaded to our database, we’re going to need those specialists.”

“Have you seen some of the stuff in that database?” Vladimir asked. “They are at least one hundred years ahead of us in shields and energy weapons. Their fabricators alone make our component printing systems obsolete.”

Nathan nodded his agreement as he pushed himself away from the desk. “Well, I guess it’s time we got under way again.”

“Yes,” Cameron agreed. “Three weeks in port is long enough.”

“Actually, I am surprised we were able to repair as much as we did in such a short time,” Vladimir said.

“It helps to have a shipyard and a thousand specialists to help out,” Nathan reminded him as he rose. “Shall we?”

Nathan left the ready room and walked out onto the bridge, Cameron and Vladimir following behind him. “Mister Hayes, are we ready to break orbit?”

“All systems are green, Captain,” Josh answered from the helm.

“Mister Sheehan?”

Loki turned in his chair at the navigator’s station to face the captain. “Jump to Corinair plotted and locked, sir.”

“Comms?”

“All departments report ready for departure, Captain,” Naralena reported.

“Tactical?”

“All systems ready. Threat board is clear, and the flight deck is set to red,” Jessica reported.

“Very well. Comms, inform the shipyard controller that we are departing.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I can’t believe we’re finally headed home,” Cameron mumbled.

“We still have one more stop, Commander.”

“Takaran port control has transferred release control to us,” Josh reported.

“Umbilicals released and retracted,” Loki added.

“Take us out, Mister Hayes,” Nathan ordered as he took his seat in the command chair at the center of the bridge.

“Aye, Captain. Releasing mooring clamps,” Josh answered. There was a slight shift as the mooring clamps that had held the Aurora in place for three weeks during her repairs finally opened. “Free floating. Translating upward.”

Nathan watched as the Takara shipyards began to fall away on the main view screen.

“Clear of all moorings,” Loki reported. “We’re free to maneuver, sir.”

“All ahead slow, Mister Hayes.”

“All ahead slow, aye,” Josh answered.

The massive structure of the Takaran shipyards passed underneath them.

“There’s the Avendahl,” Cameron pointed out as it passed beneath them on the view screen.

Nathan watched the massive battleship pass. “Man, we did more damage than I thought. I’m surprised it isn’t repaired yet.”

“How could it be?” Vladimir wondered. “We had every technician in the shipyard working on us.”

“Clear of port,” Loki reported. “Open space ahead, sir.”

“Take her up to standard jump speed.”

“Increasing to standard jump speed,” Josh answered.

“Jump point in five seconds,” Loki announced.

“All hands stand by to jump,” Naralena announced.

“You know, I have never seen this,” Vladimir confessed.

“Really?” Nathan was surprised.

“I am always in engineering when we jump.”

“Shouldn’t you be there now, then?”

“Probably,” he admitted with a grin.

“Jumping,” Loki announced.

Vladimir watched the main view screen as the blue-white light from the emitters washed out over the forward section of the Aurora’s hull. In a split second, the light intensified and then flashed, filling the bridge. A moment later, the light was gone and the planet Corinair filled the screen in front of them, growing closer by the moment.

“Jump complete,” Loki announced.

“Entering orbit over Corinair,” Josh added.

“
Bozhe moi!
” Vladimir exclaimed.

“Yeah, it never gets old,” Nathan agreed. He stood and turned to Cameron, who was standing next to the tactical console. “Commander, assemble all Corinari on the hangar deck in one hour.”

“Yes, sir,” Commander Taylor answered, somewhat puzzled. She looked at Vladimir, who only shrugged as he headed out the door.

“What’s going on?” Jessica asked after Nathan and Vladimir left the bridge.

“I have no idea,” Cameron admitted.

* * *

Nathan walked confidently down the main corridor on his way to the hangar deck. As he walked, he reflected on all they had been through while in the Pentaurus cluster. It had been a difficult journey to say the least, and only twenty of the Aurora’s original crew had survived. They had accomplished what most believed impossible, but it had been at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. For a time, Nathan had not believed he could live with the knowledge of what his actions had cost. In the end, Tug had assured him that it all would have happened eventually, even without Na-Tan or the Aurora. He even convinced Nathan that his part, and the part of his ship and crew, probably saved millions of lives in the long run. Although Nathan could see the logic in Tug’s assertions, deep in the back of his mind, he was certain he would always be asking himself that same question: ‘what if…?’

Now he faced another ‘what if’ moment. More than half of his crew was Corinairan, and despite their Alliance, he did not feel he had the right to order them to make the journey back to Earth with the Aurora. It would take anywhere from weeks to months, and there was no guarantee that they would make it back to Earth at all, nor what they would find when they arrived. He had already asked more than was his right. These men deserved a choice.