Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 01

"Carol, at ease and have a seat, please," Fina told her.

Carol was one of the best fighter pilots she had. Carol Ryan was the best fighter pilot in the Fleet. The whole Fleet. Carol Ryan was an arrogant bitch, who did things her way. Fina Dugan, Captain of the Pech, was glad to have Carol Ryan as a member of her crew.

"Thank you, ma'am," Carol replied. She knew what this was about. She knew when the Admiral came aboard why she was being called to the Captain's ready room. It was time to get her knuckles rapped. She just didn't know how hard.

"Carol... " Fina started. "Lieutenant Ryan, it is my displeasure to inform you of the letters of reprimand that will be placed in your jacket. For willful disregard of orders, you are hereby reprimanded by your then commanding officer Captain Ezra Nichols - Captain Warrior One. Also, you are hereby reprimanded by the Admiral of Fleet One, Milford Cook, for willful disregard of orders."

Fina handed Carol copies of the reprimand letters. Carol took them in silence.

"Is that all ma'am?" Carol asked.

"No Lieutenant, it is not. I have here, believe it or not, two more letters. They both read as follows: "In recognition of bravery above and beyond the call of duty, Lieutenant Carol Ryan has been nominated to receive the Bronze Space Cross by no less than two superior officers."

"Thank you, ma'am," Carol said.

"Don't thank me. Ezra Nichols and Milford Cook are the two who put you in for the Bronze, Ryan."

"What?"

"They both put you up for it."

"Ma'am."

"Confusing isn't it?"

"Ma'am," Carol said her mouth still hanging open.

"It also seems the entire crew of the Mauthe Doog will be getting commendations for that stunt the Admiral pulled. Seems he also, along with Nichols, received letters of reprimand."

Carol just sat there confused, yet proud to be a member of the Fleet fighter arm.

"Dismissed Lieutenant Ryan."

"Aye, aye ma'am."

Chapter 15

Algenib VI was fast approaching. Warrior One was again at full complement. All hands were awake and at their posts. Their approach was a stealthy one. Ezra had dropped them out of hyperspace sixteen AU's out of the system. Warrior was now on a ballistic course for Algenib VI, just another piece of space junk.

"Sir, there are ships. Lots and lots of ships," Candle Steel said quietly from his position just to the right and behind the Captain.

"What kind of Ship? Gar ships?"

"The computers are chewing on the data, sir. I will have that information in the next five minutes, sir."

"Very well. How close are these ships to us?"

"They are clustered around Algenib V and VI. There are a few further out in the system but they are on the other side of the sun from here."

"Very well. Keep me informed. Countermeasure."

"Countermeasure ready sir."

"Weapons."

"Weapons ready, sir."

Silence fell over the bridge once again as the ship flashed through the Oort cloud.

"Sir," Candle said.

"Yes, Mister Steel?"

"Ships are a mix of Gar and others. The Gar ships are most plentiful. There appears to be a battle taking place. The Gar ships are defending the two planets, Algenib V and VI. From the debris, it would appear the battle is well matched. It would seem that the Gar have made other enemies besides us, sir."

"And the other ships in the system?"

"Those closest to us appear to be mining vessels in orbit around the outlying planets. The ships on the other side of the sun are making best speed to support those Gar ships around Algenib V."

"Very well. Let me know if either ship notices us."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Sir, Comms," Ensign Flannery called out.

"Yes, Ensign."

"Sir, I am picking up chatter from the ships in the system. Both Gar and the unknown ships. All of it is in the clear. The Gar are warning off the invaders. The others are unknown so I don't have a translation matrix for them yet."

"Keep me apprised."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Sir, Navigation," Commander Nolan said.

"Yes, Commander."

"It would appear that a most fortuitous circumstance has occurred."

"What would that be Commander?"

"Algenib V and VI are both along our line of flight. We will be able to hit them both, one after the other."

"Fortuitous indeed," Ezra said. "Thank you, Commander Nolan. Weapons, re-plot for a two-planet strike. Plot, time between planets?"

"One hour fifty minutes sir?" Commander Nolan called out.

"Thank you, Commander. Weapons, you heard the man, re-compute."

"Aye, aye sir."

And so Warrior One glided into a system in turmoil. When it came time to drop their load of missiles on the planet below, they were also ready to fire on the Gar ships around the planet.

"Weapons, fire," Ezra call out as he watched the screens and the battle taking place.

"Aye, aye sir."

The ship lurched as the missiles were released and sent on their way planetside. The chuff of the plasma cannon could be heard and felt through the hull as they fired on the Gar ships just a stone's throw from Warrior as it flashed by the planet. Torpedoes zipped from Warrior on their way to selected Gar ships.

"Loadout," call weapons section.

"Very well. Weapons keep firing for as long as we are in range."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Sir, several Gar ships are breaking off and are on a pursuit course. Time to intercept four hours sixteen minutes."

"We will be long gone by that time."

"Aye, aye sir. I will keep an eye on them anyway, sir."

"Very well Mister Steel."

"Sir, four ships of the others have broken contact with the Gar and are in pursuit of the Gar ships after us."

"Very well Mister Steel. Weapons, kill count."

"Sir, three Gar ships destroyed, fourteen severely damaged, twenty-two with minor damage."

"Very good weapons, very good indeed."

"Thank you, sir."

"Candle hit assessment for our missiles?"

"Prediction ninety-two percent."

"Very good. Time to next target?"

"Now one hour twenty-two minutes, sir."

Ezra relaxed back into his couch and watched the dots moving on the screens before him. He could now make out the three Gar vessels in pursuit of Warrior. He could also see the four unknown ships chasing the Gar. Turning his head he looked at the dots surrounding Algenib V. There were just as many Gar ships ahead as behind and now they knew Warrior was coming. As they closed on Algenib V, Ezra saw the unknown ships engage more and more of the Gar as the Gar tried to disengage to make ready for Warrior's pass. Ezra thought to himself how interesting the next hour and a half would be.

Chapter 16

Algenib V was growing in the screens as were the Gar ships in orbit around it. Ezra watched as the missiles dropped away from the ship and accelerated toward the planet. Approximately four thousand missiles flashed across empty space toward the planet below. The Gar ships were so engaged with the unknown ships, that they ignored the missiles.

Plasma bolts crisscrossed the black depths of space. Hit after hit struck the Gar ships. The power of Warrior's cannon far outmatched that of the Gar or the others. Ezra watched as ship after ship exploded silently in the emptiness of space. As Warrior flashed past the planet below, plot showed that the other ships were starting their withdrawal from the battle. It would appear that Warrior had turned the tide, giving the unknown ships the chance to slip away.

"Plot, give me a course back to Algenib, I want to make another pass."

"Sir, that will require a great expenditure of mass."

"I know and we will be headed back to Aldebaran to refuel. I also hope to give comms the chance to translate the language of the others that took part in this battle."

"Aye, aye sir. Deceleration to commence in five minutes. We will then make a short jump to place us back outside the system. Then accelerate through the system. Time two hours."

"Do it," Ezra said.

"Aye, aye sir."

For the next two hours, the crew sat at their stations waiting. Ezra was tapping out commands and queries on his console as they jumped. Then he was pressed back into his couch as the ship accelerated hard.

"Weapons, whatever missiles we have left, I want them split between the two planets."

"Uh, sir, that will be over ten thousand missiles each."

"Yes, I know. You have your orders."

"Aye, aye sir.

The two hours dragged by. By the time the ship was to start, it's pass, the crew was keyed up and alert. Plot showed there were still some ships slugging away at each other.

"Sir, those three ships that started to chase us have instead turned to orbit Algenib V. By the time we pass the planet they will have matched trajectories with us."

"Thank you, Mister Steel. Where are the four ships that were chasing them?"

"They have also bent their course to follow the Gar ships."

"Helm, I want us accelerating away from V as hard as the engines will allow."

"Aye, aye sir."

"In range, in three, two, one," Candle called out.

"Fire all," Ezra shouted.

The unloading of ten thousand missiles could be felt through the soles of their shoes. The flare, as the missiles made their way to the planet, blanked the screens for a short period.

"All cannon fire when you have a target. Mister Steel, keep an eye on those three Gar ships."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Aye, aye sir," Candle said softly.

"Loadout," called weapons.

It took Warrior much longer to pass the planet this time. Gar ships had more time to bring their weapons to bear. The countermeasures office was working overtime. The shields held as multiple hits caused it to flare again and again. The ship shook with the impacts.

"Sir, the three Gar ships are slipping in behind us. They are followed by the four unknown ships."

"All aft guns fire on the Gar ships. Please avoid hitting the friendlies."

"Aye, aye sir," the weapons officer replied.

"Time to next target?"

"One hour ten minutes."

"And those Gar will be dogging us the whole way sir," Candle said.

"Yes, they will," Ezra replied.

For the next thirty minutes, Warrior shook with the blasts from the Gar ships. Then one after another the Gar ships disappeared in balls of flame as Warrior's cannon found chinks in their armor. The four unknown ships, now down to three, continued to follow Warrior. They didn't fire, but they were making ready to fire on any Gar ship they encountered.

"In range, three, two, one," Candle called out.

"Fire," yelled Ezra.

Again the crew felt the vibrations through their feet as the flare of the missiles blanked the screens once again.

"Loadout," weapons yelled.

Then the Gar ships were within range. Cannons fired. The ship shook with the hits from Gar weapons. The pass was shorter as they had been accelerating the whole time. Warrior flashed past the planet almost as fast as the first time. The three unknown ships were still in Warrior's shadow. As the Gar ships came into range, they opened fire scoring several hits.

As Warrior streaked past the planet, the Gar fired blindly. Some scored hits, while others missed completely. Ezra watched as several Gar ships disintegrated from plasma hits of Warrior's cannon.

"Holy... ," the weapons officer exclaimed.

"Report Mister Kinsella."

"The planet... Algenib VI has just exploded. Brace for shockwave."

"All hands, brace for impact," Candle shouted into his microphone.

The ship shook, as it was pushed along on the crest of the shockwave. Things, coffee cups, pencils, other things not attached to the ship flew around the control room. Some crew members were swept off their feet. At least four of the crew were knocked out of their couches.

"How did our friends fair?" Ezra asked.

"Two of them came through, the third has been damaged severely. The other two have stopped accelerating and are matching speed with their damaged comrade."

"Damage report," Ezra then called out.

"Minimal," Candle replied scanning his board.

"Plot, compute jump for Aldebaran V."

"Aye, aye sir."

Chapter 17

As Warrior made the jump to hyperspace, Communications Officer Michael Flannery received one more message from the unknown vessels. As he adds it to the language database, the computer spits out a translation matrix. The text flowing across his screen was the translation of all the communications between their ships and the last communication received. Ensign Flannery read each and every word with a fascination he only allowed when he finally finished a task assigned to him.

"Sir, communications."

"Yes, Mister Flannery?"

"I am transferring the translation of the unknowns communications to your console. The very last transmission we received is the most interesting."

"Thank you, Ensign." Ezra bent over his screens to read the translations.

He sat back quickly, as he read the last transmission.

"Plot, time to Aldebaran?"

"Thirty-two days, sir."

"Helm, Plot, I want that cut in half."

"Sir, your orders... "

"Mister Steel, come look over my shoulder."

"Aye, aye sir." Candle moved to the right of the Captain and read the text displayed on the screen. He stood motionless. "Could this be?" he whispered in the Captain's ear.

"Aye, it would seem so, unless the computer... well, that couldn't happen."

"No, sir." Candle stood returning to his position. "Plot, Helm, you heard the Captain."

"Aye, aye sir, computing."

Ezra reread the message to make sure he read it correctly. He had. It was the most fantastic thing he ever read and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. That he would concede to the request was without question, but they, Warrior needed to refuel and rearm before they did.

"Sir, Communications."

"Yes, Ensign."

"Sir, I have found an embedded file in the last transmission."

"Has it been translated?"

"Yes, sir. It appears to be a history of the unknowns."

"Send it to my console."

"Aye, aye sir already sent."

"Thank you, Ensign."

Ezra opened the files and began reading. The first thing he found out was the name of the unknown race that manned those ships. The K'lar, where a race in the third arm of the galactic spiral. Their civilization was older than humankind. Far older. The K'lar encountered the Gar two-hundred years ago and had just recently developed the technology to meet the Gar on even ground. There was a picture of several K'lar. Ezra assumed they were the male and female of the species. They were bipedal symmetrical and looked so much like humans that it would have been difficult to tell the difference.

"Sir, Plot."

"Go Plot."

"We have computed an acceleration program that will get us to Aldebaran in half the time and at a relative velocity as to place us in orbit with minimal braking."

"Very good. Execute."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Mister Steel, have all heads of departments meet me in my ready room."

"Sir, might I suggest the conference room."

"Of course, of course. Have the files Comms sent me transferred to each console in the conference room."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Mister Beckett, you have the conn. Please read the items on the screens at your leisure." Ezra said as he left the bridge.

"Aye, aye, sir," Commander Beckett acknowledged as he sat in the chair.

Chapter 18

Ezra stood at the head of the conference table as his heads of department wandered into the room. When Connor MacDonald came in, he strode to the chair to the left of Ezra's. Once all heads were present Ezra sat without preamble.

"Gentlemen, sit, we can do without the formalities for now. As you may or may not know, two amazing things have occurred. Well, actually three. First, we hit two Gar worlds not once, but twice. Second, Algenib VI was blown up on our second run. Now whether we did it or it was some doing of the Gar, we don't know as yet. Yes, Mister Nolan?"

"The video of the incident shows the planet exploding just seconds after the missiles hit. They all appeared to hit in the exact same place on the planet's surface. We can... "

"Be that as it may Mister Nolan. Third, we have met, helped and been contacted by an alien species."

"Aye, and that is the most important part," Connor MacDonald interjected.

"At ease Connor," Ezra said softly.

"Aye, Captain."

"Now, for our course of action from this point forward. We are currently accelerating, as you may have noticed, toward Aldebaran, where we will refuel and rearm. If the Fleet is still in orbit and/or in comm range, I will transmit the message we received from the K'lar, that's what they call themselves. I will then abide by the orders of Fleet Admiral Cook.

"If the Fleet is unreachable, then I will, this ship will, rendezvous with the K'lar at the coordinates in their communiqué."

"Sir?" Lafferty Owens spook up for the first time.

"Yes, Mister Owens?"

"We're taking Warrior all by itself to a meeting where who knows how many K'lar ships are at some coordinates... "

"The meeting will take place at Atlas in the Pleiades."

"The Pleiades," Laff finished.

"Yes, I am. Laff, this is the most... most important occurrence in human history out here to come along. I plan on us not fucking this up. So, yes, I plan on just us, a dreadnought class warship, that blew up a planet, meeting potential new friends."

"Aye, aye sir," Laff returned.

"Sir, Atlas is over four hundred light years away. That distance... " Connor started.

"Is well within the reach of Warrior One."

"Aye, it is. I was just concerned at the length of the trip."

"That we will talk about after this meeting is over, along with Mister Nolan."

"Aye, Captain," Connor said.

"Gentlemen, on the consoles in front of you is a file that outlines the K'lar's history. I suggest you take your time and read it. I have read the entire document and am very impressed with our allies."

"Captain, you can't make that assumption... "

"Laff, they had all the time in the world to hit us and hit us hard while we flew past the Gar planets. They chose instead, to send us their history and how long they have been fighting the Gar. Read. Read the document. Read the comm traffic we picked up, it's on these consoles as well. This is important Laff, no doubt about it."

"Aye, aye sir," Laff responded.

"Connor, if you and Eric will join me in my ready room, we will leave the rest to learn about our new friends."

"Aye, aye Captain," Connor replied while Eric Nolan nodded getting up to follow the Captain to his ready room.

"Gentlemen," Ezra started, "as you know, we can now accelerate within the hyperspace bubble, thus shortening our time spent between jump points. I want a minimal span jump between Aldebaran V and Atlas. How long would a normal hyperspace jump take?"

"One hundred and forty-four days," Connor and Eric both said at the same time.

"Well, at least you two are in agreement." Ezra laughed. "I would like that cut in half, gentlemen. I do however want us to be able to return back to Aldebaran so we can refuel. Can we do it?"

Connor and Eric stared at him. Ezra thought he could see the gears turning in each of their heads. Connor was the first to reach for his pocket computer. He sat there tapping on the small screen. Eric leaned in to look over his shoulder. Connor looked at Eric, shrugged and turned the computer so Eric could see what was displayed.

Suddenly a quiet screen was deployed between Ezra and the two engineers. Ezra smiled as the two discussed the figures that were displayed on the screen of Connor's computer. Then both of them nodded. The quiet screen disappeared and the two men turned to Ezra.

"We can do it, sir, but the round trip will surely strain our fuel and our fuel tanks will contain nothing but fumes when we arrive back at Aldebaran V. We will have just enough to power the thrusters to swing us into orbit."

"Plot it, but leave us a little more for emergencies. We don't have to cut the time back in half," Ezra said.