Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 01

"My god." Came the whisper from across the bridge.

"What is it, Mister Carlson?" Ezra demanded.

"Sorry sir," Ensign Carlson was apologizing to his superior, Lieutenant Dwyer. "Captain the unknowns are firing on the Gar ships already. Plasma cannon or something similar, anyway, the Gar ships are going dark. One after the other."

"Have the unknowns fired any missiles?"

"Not that I can see sir."

"Torpedoes out," Commander Kinsella said.

"How close will they come to the unknowns?"

"They won't come anywhere near them sir. I placed them on a course that will skirt the unknowns by a wide margin."

"Thank you, Mister Kinsella."

"You are welcome, sir."

"Time to missile launch?"

"One hour," Teague answered.

"Will the unknowns have passed the planet by then?"

"Yes, sir," came the answer from Commander Nolan.

"Thank you, Eric."

"Sir."

Silence once more fell over the bridge.

"Gar ships maneuvering. One hundred... one hundred moving. All in different directions, all at different speeds. None of them are bearing on us or the unknowns." Ensign Carlson's voice was full of astonishment.

"Very well. What of the other Gar ships."

"They have, what's left of them, turned and are now facing the unknowns and us." Lieutenant Dwyer scanned his board to reassure himself of his statement.

"Making a stand of it."

"One would assume," Ensign Carlson answered absently.

Ezra gave a chuckle as he watched the main screen come to life with a live picture of the Alnilam system overlaid with tactical data. As he watched, Ezra saw the unknown ships. Squat, thick, tubes, five in all, around a central core. The front of the ships bulged with weapons bays. As he watched, blue streaks of plasma shot out, flashing toward the Gar ships left around the planet.

Chapter 47

"How many Gar ships left now, Mister Carlson?" Ezra queried.

"Fifty-eight still maneuvering, twenty-seven still with life signs yet not moving."

"Very good. Teague, time to missile launch?"

"Twenty-two minutes, sir."

"Thank you."

"Sensors, the unknowns are maneuvering."

"Course?"

"They are swinging back for another run."

"How long until they return?"

"Computing... one hour fifteen minutes, sir," Commander Nolan said.

"Will they be in any danger from our missiles? If we hit the target with them all and the planet was to explode, would the unknowns be in any danger?"

"Computing."

The silence was long and drawn out.

"Fifty-fifty, sir."

"Mister Flannery, all frequencies, all languages, let them know what we plan."

"Aye, aye sir." Ensign Flannery bent over his comm-board pressing buttons and turning dials.

"Sir, do you think that is wise?" Candle spoke for the first time.

"Well, if we don't let them know and we destroy or damage one of their ships what do you think will be the result?"

"I see your point."

Ezra just looked back at Candle.

"Time to missile launch?"

"Fifteen minutes, sir."

"Unknown's course?"

"The same sir."

"Weapons?"

"Weapons ready."

Ezra turned back to the main screen and watched the planet grow bigger. He watched as torpedoes struck home and Gar ships disappeared.

"Have the torpedoes for those dark ships been re-tasked?"

"They have sir."

"Very well."

As he watched more and more Gar ships, either stopped maneuvering or just simply disappear.

"Sir, unknown ships slowing."

"Thank you, Mister Dwyer."

"One minute to launch."

"Very well."

"Firing... load out."

"Very good."

Ezra watched the planet as they flashed past at a high percentage of the speed of light.

"Gar ships have fired on us. No damage reported."

"Thank you, Mister Carlson."

As Ezra turned back to the main screen, he watched as the planet split apart. A fissure started from the north pole, continued down the face of the planet facing Warrior and continued down to the south pole. Then the fissure erupted. Ezra watched, fascinated by what he was witnessing, as the shockwave of the planet exploding raced toward them.

"Mister Carlson, what is the speed of that shock wave?"

"Computing... sir, it will reach us in the next sixteen seconds."

"All hands prepare for collision! All hands prepare for collision!" Ezra yelled.

Alarms sounded as the ship shook from the racing shockwave of a dying planet. Lights flashed off, then on. Sparks flew into the air as equipment was torn from its platforms. Ezra was thrown from his couch. Candle was there to help him up.

"Damage reports," Ezra yelled as he scanned his board. It flickered several times then steadied and started spewing data across his screens.

As he looked up at the main screen, he saw that the ship was tumbling.

"Helm, get us under control."

"Trying sir. Some of my controls are not responding."

"Where are my damage reports?"

"Sir, engineering reports that the main engines are offline."

"Mister Vaughan, thrusters only."

"Aye, aye sir."

If it wasn't for the initial dampeners, the crew would have been thrown around the ship as it tumbled about its axis. As Ezra watched the tumbling slowed, then stopped.

"Very good Mister Vaughan."

"Thank you, sir."

"Mister Nolan, course corrections?"

"Laid in sir. Ready to execute."

"Will you need the main engines?"

"No sir, thruster will do."

"Very well, execute."

"All hands, stand by for maneuvering."

The ship bumped, then bumped again. Once the maneuver was finished Ezra turned over the ship to Commander Beckett and retired to his ready room with Candle in tow.

Chapter 48

"Sir, damage reports coming in."

"Very well, what are they?"

"Engineering reports sub-light engines are offline until further notice. They also report that five primary conduits have been rerouted to secondaries. Shields are down. Weapons, half our plasma cannon are out of commission."

"Any good new?"

"We didn't destroy the unknown ships."

"Great."

"They are currently maneuvering and will be on our tail in the next couple of hours."

"I see. What is our speed?"

"We are still at sixty-six percent of light speed."

"I hope we don't run into anything with our shields down."

"We wouldn't notice it if we did."

"True. All right Candle, have Commander MacDonald report to me as soon as he can."

"Yes, sir."

"Also, when can we jump to hyperspace?"

"Commander Nolan is waiting to speak to you about that."

"Well send him in."

"Yes, sir."

The door opened and Eric Nolan, a grim look on his face, entered.

"Sir, I'm sorry to report that we will be unable to jump to hyperspace."

"Why, are our hyperspace engines offline?"

"No sir, but until our shields are back up, we dare not."

"Shields are back up, sir," Candle reported. "And commander MacDonald is on his way up."

"Very good. Mister Nolan, we make the jump to hyperspace as soon as we can."

"Aye, aye sir." Eric nodded at Ezra, turned and left his ready room.

Ezra leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Sir, Commander MacDonald," Candle said softly, just as a knock at the door sounded.

Ezra looked at Candle with a raised eyebrow as he yelled, "Come in."

Connor MacDonald was a mess. His uniform was torn, covered in dirt and lubricants of unknown origin.

"Commander MacDonald reporting as ordered, sir."

"Connor, at ease, have a seat."

"Aye, Captain." Connor sat then slumped in his chair. "It's a mess down there sir."

"How bad is she?"

"My boy, she is hurt, but we are working to fix her as quick as we can."

"Will we have sub-light engines soon?"

"I don't know yet... " The ship shook and there was a loud rending noise. "Sweet Heavenly Mother, what now?" Connor shouted jumping up from his seat.

"Go, go," Ezra told him standing also and hurrying out of the room right behind him.

Ezra was on the bridge as Connor ran to the lift. The ship was shaking and growling as Ezra stood at his Command Chair.

"REPORT!" he shouted.

Commander Nolan stood, turned and faced Ezra.

"Sir, two Gar ships appeared alongside us. They fired four missiles and dropped into hyperspace. Our shroud is in shambles."

"Jettison!"

"Aye, aye sir," Sean O'Connor said from her station. She typed in the commands and the ship shook one final time as the shroud was cut loose.

The ship settled down from its shakes and shudders. Ezra flopped into his chair.

"Sir, sensors."

"Go, Mister Carlson."

"Three unknowns just appeared behind us."

"Their weapons?"

"Their weapons appear to be cold sir."

"Very well, keep an eye on them."

"Aye, aye sir."

Chapter 49

Ezra sat, scrubbing his face with his hands, as his ship sped through hyperspace on the way home. He watched as the blips on the screen became bigger, as the three unknown ships slowly gained on Warrior.

"Sensors?"

"Nothing new sir. Just that they are gaining on us."

"Can you tell me anything about them?"

"Not much, their shields are very effective. I can tell if they are powering up weapons. I can see where their sub-light engines are and their hyperdrive is, yet I cannot see anything else."

"Keep trying I don't want any surprises."

"Aye, aye sir."

Ezra leaned back on his couch, watching. Candle stood at his post, also watching, but he was seeing the unknown ships in real time.

"Comms, sir, I'm receiving a signal from the unknowns."

"What?" Ezra shouted sitting up straight in his chair.

"Sir, I too, am receiving a signal on my inter-ship communications band," Candle said surprise registering in his voice.

"What are they saying?" Ezra queried.

"They would like to meet us. I'm paraphrasing. They wish to know who and what we are and how we destroyed a planet."

"Tell them we will be glad to meet with them. Where?" Ezra told Candle.

"Transmitting," Candle said. "Here, now. They wish us to drop out of hyperspace so they may meet with us."

"Tell them to hold a minute while we discuss this among ourselves."

"Transmitted. They will wait."

"I want MacDonald, Beckett, Nolan, you, Quinlan, Owens, Flannery, Dwyer in my conference room ASAP."

"Yes, sir."

"Mister Kinsella you have the ship," Ezra said.

Teague started, then rose and calmly walked to the Chair.

"Aye, aye sir," he announced his readiness.

"Very well done, Mister Kinsella," Ezra smiled at him.

"Thank you, sir."

Eight officers sat around the conference table waiting for Ezra to begin. Candle stood just behind Ezra with a strange look on his face.

"Sir, they are waiting," he said softly.

"I know. Gentlemen, we have been contacted by the unknown ships now on our six o'clock. They want to meet, here, now."

Silence filled the space. Ezra looked around the table. None of his officers seemed surprised by what he told them.

"Connor, what's the word on our sub-light engines?"

"Repairs are almost complete. We should have half power within the next hour. Maybe full power restored by the time we need to decelerate."

"Once we are done here we start decelerating at half power, Eric calculate. What about our weapons?"

"All torpedo and missile tube are operational. There are still two plasma cannon turrets that are not operational, but with our shroud gone, others can be brought to bear where needed."

"Yes, there is that. Major Owens, how many Marines do you have on board?"

"Thirty, sir," Laff responded knowing full well Ezra knew the answer.

"All right, here is what I propose. We need allies to fight the Gar. We have one, the K'lar. These unknowns could be two. I will take the Captains Gig out to meet our new friends. Laff, I want ten of your best to come along."

"Me included sir?"

"Yes, you included. Candle, Mister Nolan, Mister Quinlan will accompany me. Commander MacDonald, I want your people working on fixing what needs fixing. Commander Beckett, the ship will be yours when I leave. You will be Captain... "

"Acting Captain, sir."

"... acting Captain, yes."

"Sir, if I might... "

"Go ahead Candle."

"... we might want to include another android. One of the nurses sir."

"Why? Never mind, no time to go into that. Who?"

"Rebecca Gold sir. She has been... hearing the communications from the unknowns also."

"Tell her. We meet in the ship's gig in ten minutes. Candle notify them of our plan. Mister Nolan, prepare to drop out of hyperspace."

"Yes, sir."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Then let's go."

Chapter 50

Once again, Ezra was about to make first contact with an alien species. This time he was on his own, except for the support of his crew. He had every confidence in his crew. Every confidence. As he walked to the ship's gig, he had Commander Beckett at his side.

"If something happens where the gig is destroyed or we don't come back, use your own discretion as to what response you use."

"Aye, aye sir."

"I will tell you what I would do... "

"I know, we all know what you would do sir."

"I see, that transparent am I?"

"No sir, it's what any commander would do. Avenge his lost mates."

"Indeed. Then I can expect you to do just that?"

"Yes, sir, you can."

"Very well, I hope it won't be necessary."

"I too hope it won't."

They arrived at the gig with the rest of those going. Commander Beckett saluted Ezra as he stepped through the door of the gig.

"Open a channel and keep it, open sir," Phin shouted.

"We will."

"Good luck sir." Ezra heard as the hatch slammed shut.

Scrambling for the pilot's seat Ezra bumped into Eric. They looked at each other, then nodding, Eric backed away.

"Your pleasure sir," he whispered.

"Thank you, Mister... Eric. Everyone strapped in? It's been a while since I drove one of these things," Ezra laughed as he pushed the button to start the sub-light engine.

Glancing behind him, he saw that everyone was strapped in. Nodding, he pulled the lever that would disengage the docking clamp. At the same time, thrusters fired, pushing them away from the hull of Warrior. Ezra drove the ship to a point between Warrior and the three ships of the unknowns. As they approached the midpoint, a small shuttlecraft started from the front ship, toward the gig. They met in the middle. Nose to nose. The shuttle was small compared to Warrior's ships gig.

"Candle, tell them the starboard airlock is ready to receive them."

"Yes, sir... message sent and received."

Ezra watched the small ship maneuver to his left.

"Major Owens, Candle with me. The rest of you in the conference room."

The ships gig was big. It contained not only quarters for a crew of six, but a conference room for ten and a full galley. Plus, the command deck and a section for passengers to be ferried from place to place.

Major Owens and five of his Marines joined Ezra. Two stayed on the command deck, the other three went to the conference room with Becky, Eric, and Quinlan. Ezra was shaking as he heard the two airlocks come together. The other ship was docked.

"Open the outer hatch," Ezra told the Marine standing at the panel.

Three of the unknowns stepped into the airlock. The Marine closed the outer hatch and cycled the inner hatch. The three strangers were just pulling off helmets of some type. Ezra and the rest were shocked. They were human or so like humans as to be close relatives.

One of them spoke. Ezra could tell it was K'lar.

"They are surprised you are not K'lar."

"Why would they think we were K'lar?"

"Um, my pardon sir, I thought you knew, we were communicating in K'lar. It was the only language we had in common."

"Very good. Please ask them to join us in the conference room."

"Yes, sir." Candle switched to K'lar and spoke fluently to the strangers. "They say, lead the way."

Nodding, Ezra turned with Candle in tow, toward the conference room. Everyone was on their feet as their visitors joined them.

"Quinlan, we need K'lar translation buttons," Ezra said.

Quinlan set four pairs on the table. Ezra nodded thinking they all needed to work on their communication skills. Taking a button, he snapped it on his lapel and tapped the thing to activate it. Nodding, he indicated their visitors should do the same. Once everyone had a button and Quinlan was satisfied that they were all working properly, Ezra began.

"Welcome to Warrior's ships gig. I am Captain Ezra Nichols."

The three visitors were surprised as they heard not only English but K'lar was being whispered in their ear from the buttons.

"We thought you would be K'lar, although you did transmit in several languages, the only two we understood were K'lar and Denebian. What is your native language called? I have never heard it before."

"English. It is but one of many spoken on our world. May I ask what you call your species?"

"Of course. We are known as humans."

"What?"

"We are humans, as it would appear so are you. What is your history... how did you come to be on your world?"

"We were always on our world, from so long ago there are no records, just fossilized bone."

"I see."

"What is your name sir?"

"I am Captain Landry Strivelyn, Commander of the Sainte-d'Aignaux."

"Saxons," whispered Quinlan.

"Enough of that Commander," Ezra admonished Quinlan.

"Yes, we are from Saxon, a small planet in the Mont-Canisi cluster. But you would have no idea where that is. What do you call your world?"

"Earth or Terra." Ezra was still glaring at Quinlan.

Suddenly, the three visitors started to speak among themselves in their native language, which sounded a lot like French.

"Quinlan?" Ezra said glaring at him again.

"Sorry, sir. It sounds like French, but most of the words are unfamiliar to me."

"Sir, you have to consider how long it is since they left Earth," Candle spoke softly.

"Left Earth?" Ezra was again surprised.

"Yes, sir. They either left on their own or were taken."

The room was now draped in silence as the three visitors were staring at Ezra and his men. Ezra and the rest were staring just as hard at them.

"It would appear you are our long lost brothers?" Ezra quipped.

"Indeed. Our history does mention that we all came from somewhere else. A planet far distant from the worlds we found ourselves on. The... what do you call them?"

"Gar."

"Interesting. The Gar brought us to the worlds we now inhabit generations ago. We don't know if they took us from Earth or if that was done by someone else. Some two hundred years ago, we overthrew our overlords. Took their machines and made them our own. We soon expanded into the galactic core where we found the homeworld of our tormentors.

"After a long, tedious struggle, we destroyed their planet. Not as spectacularly as you did, but we wiped every living Gar from the face of the planet. Since then we have been hunting them down. We ran into the K'lar and saw they posed no threat. They were, after all, helping us in our quest."

"And why did you communicate with us?"

"You blew up a planet and your ship is the largest we have ever encountered. You know what the Gar call your ship?"

"No," Ezra said surprised that the Gar would name his ship.

"Deathstalker."

"Deathstalker? Did I hear that correctly?"

"You did."

For the next three hours, Ezra and Landry talked about Earth and the Gar. Ezra found out that Landry and his people knew what the Gar looked like. Landry had data transmitted from his ship to the gig so Ezra and his crew could see a Gar.

Chapter 51

The Saxons were back on their ship as were the crew of Warrior. That is what Ezra thought they should be called, except that word brought back so many unpleasant memories. Even though all that happened so long ago as to be forgotten in history. Ezra didn't know how he was going to break this news to the Admiral. And the K'lar. What would they think?

Ezra strode onto the bridge, looked around and nodded.