The Catherine Kimbridge Chronicles #4, Retribution (25 page)

They were running out of time. In less than ten hours the Modos fleet would be jumping into Naanac space. Only on arrival would the Chairman issue the destruct code that would trigger the so-called
loss-mitigation
systems that would destroy this world. This technology could be the key to stopping them, if only they could get it to work.

The Admira
l’
s idea was to enshroud each of the devices in a permanent protective shield so powerful that the Modos no longer had access to them to trigger them. Existing shield technology would work, but the power requirements meant an external power source would be needed, which defeated the purpose, or a battery would have to be used, which would operate the shield for a week or two at the best. Neither option was viable. The efficiency of the new Suhtii shields, however, meant that a battery could operate the system for several years -- which would buy the Naan people all the time they needed to defeat their overlords.

Ben reached a forward arm toward the display
.“
What if we did
n’
t try to fix the problem? What if we used the system just as it is
?
”

Cat looked at her
D’
lralu friend
.“
What are you thinking Ben
?
”

In answer the engineer wrapped all four arms around the display
.“
If we enveloped the attacking ships rather than the nukes on the planet surface we accomplish the same goa
l
… do
n’
t we
?
”

Thais bit her lip
.“
That might be tough to accomplish. How would you get them inside the shield
?
”

Cat smiled
.“
We do
n’
t have to. A normal shield repels energy and matter striking its exterior. Trying to expand a shield through an object would push the object awa
y
… but these shields operate in reverse. We should have no trouble using a shield generator to remotely envelop any target we choose. Ben, Thai
s
… how long would it take to modify a missile to deploy the Suhtii technology
?
”

Ben looked at the schematic one more time
.“
I
t’
s certainly small enoug
h
…”  

Thais spoke up
.“
Meia hor
a
… half an hour
.
”

“
Get busy, then
,
” Cat ordered
.“
I want as many as your teams can fabricate, as fast as possible.
I’
m going to go brief the Admiral
.
”

***

General Moss stood next to Captain Breakwater on the plane
t’
s surface
.“
This will soon be over, Captain. The Chairman is coming to clean up our mess. Once this planet is sterilized, we can look forward to long and illustrious careers behind desks in the darkest, coldest, and most remote hole he can find for u
s
… and that will be if we are truly fortunate
.
”

“
Begging the Genera
l’
s pardon, but the situation here is hardly our faul
t…,
” Captain Breakwater began.

General Moss laughed
.“
So little you know about the art of business. Fault always is laid on those least able to refute it. Dead men have very little say in the grand scheme of things. If the Chairman wants to lay the blame for this at our feet, the only thing you and I can do if we want to continue breathing is to sa
y‘
Yes, sir, we certainly did screw up
.
’ Anything else will get you dead before you can piss in a puddle
.
”

***

The
MS Typhoon
and her escort of seven additional Dreadnaughts plus a myriad lessor vessels emerged from the hyperfield conduit near the planet Naanac and into a fire storm. The GCP fleet was waiting for them.

The
Typhoo
n’
s
Captain started barking orders to his bridge crew.

“
Shields
to maximum
!
 
Weapons!
Fire on those ships. HELM, get me some maneuvering room
.
”

The Chairman watched the scene with a sense of serene detachment. They were still too far out to transmit the loss-mitigation codes but that would change soon enough. Several of the ships in the Syndicate contingent were live-streaming the battle to each of the major worlds
in Syndicate space. The Chairman wanted the masses to see what happens to a world when the Syndicate is defied.

“
Captai
n
… if you would be so kind as to move us closer to the primary target.
I’
m anxious to be done with this unpleasant business
.
”

“
At once, sir
!
” the captain answered crisply.

“
Hel
m
… break away from the fighting. Best possible speed for the planet Naana
c
”

***

 “
There he goes
!
” Jason Ruck yelled from the bridge of the
Mador
.“
Helm, plot his cours
e
… wh
o’
s going to be closest
?
”

“
I
t’
s the
Yorktown
, sir. Sh
e’
s already moving to engage
.
”

“
Very good. Weapons, le
t’
s distract the Chairman, shall we? We ca
n’
t have his point defense systems spoiling our surprise
.
”

“
Firing rail guns and missiles, sir
.
”

“
Very good, Lieutenant. Keep them busy
.
”

***

Admiral Cat Kimbridge watched as Captain Kirkland expertly guided the
Yorktown
through the chaos of the unfolding battle to position the ship in a prime position to intercept the
Typhoon
as she made a run for the planet. She sighed. She still thought of the
Yorktown
as her ship, but in reality its command had passed to another. Still, Ken, was a good man and a good friend.

“
Admiral, the
Typhoon
is beginning its run. Moving to engage
.
”

“
Very good, Captain
,
” Cat said, as she opened a channel to Engineering
.“
Thai
s
… is our little surprise ready
?
”

“
Sim, Admiral! Just give the word
.
”

“
The word is given
.
”

A seemingly ordinary pair of missiles streaked out of the
Yorktow
n’
s
forward launch tubes, traveling at a sizeable fraction of the speed of light. As they made their way toward the
MS Typhoon,
point defense systems attempted to engage. The first missile was hit and instantly vaporized. The second missile, however, reached its target.

The effect was somewhat unusual. The missil
e’
s onboard AI deployed a small hyperfield, and matched the
Typhoo
n’
s
forward momentum. It latched onto the exterior of the ship and engaged a magnetic grapple. Within an instant the Modos warship was engulfed in a lightly shimmering nimbu
s
… and then it turned jet black, as all reflected light from the surface of the
Typhoon
was captured and dissipated by the Suhtii shielding. For the next seventeen point eight years the
MS Typhoon
would be effectively cut off from the rest of the universe.

Cheers broke out on the bridge of the
Yorktown
. Ken put his hand up to quiet them down
.“
Focus people! We still have active fighters in theatre
.
”

Cat smiled. Ken was a good captain
.“
Ziggy
,
” she said
,“
open a channel to Admiral Faragon. Let him know that Operation Isolate is a go
.
”

“
Aye-aye, Admira
l
”

In a few seconds Admiral Faragon acknowledged their transmission and followed it up with one of his own.

“
Attention, fleet. This is Fleet Admiral Bud Faragon.
I’
m pleased to tell you the primary target has been neutralized. Please proceed with the plan to neutralize all remaining Dreadnaughts. Any other ship attempting to get within six AU of the planet Naanac is to be warned away or blown away if they refuse to heed the warning. I do
n’
t need to tell you that i
t’
s critically important that we succeed in this mission. God be with you all. Admiral Faragon out
.
”

The battle raged on for several more minutes but as soon as two of the larger Dreadnaughts were cocooned in perfectly round black spheres the others lost interest in the fight and began to withdraw. The
Mador
and
Yorktown
each managed to catch an additional Dreadnaught before they could establish hyperfield corridors and escape.

“
We got five of the seven big boys
,
” Ken said out loud on the bridge of the
Yorktown
.

Cat stepped down to the command deck and rested a hand casually on the back of his chair
.“
That we did Captai
n
… that we did
.
”

Ken looked back over his shoulder
.“
The real question, Admiral, is will it be enough? Will the Modos stand down
?
”

Cat shook her head
.“
I doubt it. They have too many years as slavers to back down after one bloody nose. Besides, at the end of the day they are puppets dancing to the jig of the Uruk
,
”

Cat did
n’
t say it out loud, but she wondered silently whether the GCP was
n’
t dancing the same jig under the control of the Heshe.

***

“
Damn
!
”
General Moss swore
.“
If you want a job done, you have to do yourself. The cowards have fled. If word of this gets out, the Syndicate is going to have decades of war on their hands. Come on, soldier
.
”

Captain Breakwater looked at his commander
.“
Sir
?
”

“
W
e’
re going to have to set off the bombs on our own
.
”

Chapter Twenty Tw
o–
Salvation...

“
Captain
!
”
Lieutenant Zimmerman yelled
.“
We have an incoming transmission from the planet. Professor Debbu is reporting that the planetary destruct sequence had been activated
!
”

“
What
?
” Cat and Ken said in unison.

Cat immediately hailed the WhimPy in orbit above the planet
.“
101, can you confirm? Has the loss-mitigation system been activated
?
”

“
It is confirmed, Admiral. The initiation sequence was manually entered three minutes ago from a ground station
.
”

Cat spun toward the communication station
.“
Zigg
y
… get the
Mador
, the
Victory
, and the
Resolute
online ASAP
.
”