| Powder Monkey March 2010 |
Short Story #5
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| CSS VIPER Patrol Log #124 11 July 2286 Near the Upper Abyss 1st Combat by Roger Campbell |
“General Quarters, General Quarters, All hands man your battle
stations. This is not a drill. Captain to the bridge.”
Before Lcdr. Kaths was finished making the announcement Captain
Roman was standing beside him, the reason the captain’s cabin was adjacent
to the ship’s bridge.
“Report.”
“Sir,” Boats made the report. “If you’d look at this on the Long Range
arrays.” He pointed to the radar screens in front of him. “That’s got to be a
large destroyer or small cruiser from the size of that blip.”
“Coming in from the abyss, huh?” Roman studied as he spoke. “What’s
IFF say?”
“Nothing.” Tomcat remarked. “It’s not making any type of signal.”
“All the human vessels are entered into the data base, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Tomcat replied. “All the ships that sail these voids, Elves,
Hobbs, human, etc. Sir, that has to be one of those Undead vessels. Any
word from the Sposts?”
“Nothing. What’s the projected course?”
“Columbus.”
“Ah, say that again.”
“Yes, sir.” Boats answered this time. “I’ve got it on a course towards
home. Don’t ask sir, I’ve checked four times. We got us a raider at best.”
“Raiders try to be unseen.” Roman sat in his chair.
“Sir, what if they thought they’d be unseen coming in from the abyss?”
Not much traffic ever in that area, usually none.”
“Good question Pekin. Normally that should be a good guess. But the
bones or whatever the hell they are surely have to know the Sposts are
watching them and that they’re friendly with us.”
“Sir, what if they don’t know about you and the spooks?”
Roman took a long look at the young petty officer. “That’s something I
hadn’t considered. Right now back to the matter at hand. We don’t need the
Sposts to tell us something is coming our way. Kaths you’re relieved. Get all
weapons on line. We’ve got no idea what’s going to stop that thing. Yes, we’
re going in.” Roman paused to look at the look of amazement on their faces.
“Right now we’re the only thing between it and our countrymen living on
Columbus. Boats, sent this message to Fleet, personal for Admiral Green,
classification, Code Alpha Red Seven. Undead destroyer inbound for
Columbus. Viper only thing in between. Will intercept. Boats add this position.
. . . Pekin, maintain this course and speed.”
For several minutes, Roman sat in the captain’s chair thinking, Lcdr
Kaths adjusted the ships weapons, Boats sent the message and returned to
studying the intruder and Helm wondered what was going on.
“Sir, two minutes to weapons’ range.” Kaths reported.
“Lock on.”
“Sir, you going to try to talk to them first?” Kaths asked what the rest of
the bridge team was wondering.
“No. They don’t think, at least not like us. Damn it. I wish I could
remember what the Sposts said will destroy the bastards.”
“You could ask them.” Boats thought it was a good idea.
“Not with them this close. Never know how long the Sposts are going to
talk and I want to be mentally onboard when we go into combat. . . . What,
no comments Boats?”
“Sir, despite the fact you set me up beautifully, I’d get court marshaled
for the cracks I want to make.”
“Did set you up didn’t I. Okay, have all stations reported in they’re ready
for combat?”
“Yes sir.” Boats replied.
“Weapons are ready sir.” Kaths remarked.
“Sir, Viper seems eager to get in close.” Pekin commented.
“Good.” Roman patted the overhead. “Okay gal, that bastard is
probably better armed than you. But you’re the most agile ship I know. Lets
use your twist and shout abilities to their max.”
When the ship did a juke that the Helm reported she did not perform
Roman again patted the overhead and smiled.
“Doc, Skipper.”
“Sir, don’t ask. We haven’t given you a report cause we ain’t got
anything to report. Except for the fact it’s a large destroyer type we know
nothing.”
“No readings of any type?” Asked a surprised veteran ship driver.
“Sir, Long Range Visual shows there’s something emitting some form
lighting on that thing. But none of our sensors are picking up anything. It’s as
if that was a block of ice.”
“Maybe it is. Have you tried infra-red?”
“Sir?”
“Infra-red. That old method of reading heat.”
“Damn, forgot all about that thing. Be right back with you.”
A minute later.
“Skipper Doc. Got that reading.”
“Well, you going to report or do I wait for the email?”
“Sir. Space is warmer than that thing. By reversing the readings we
spotted ten moving critters. A pair of some type of propulsion back aft. I think
we’re found some gun mounts, but I won’t swear by it. Now that we know
how to find something out about it there’s a few other scans I want to run.
Will let you know.”
“Only a crew of ten?” Roman asked himself out loud.
“Sir, what if it’s another probe? They want to see how we react to a
ship this size.” Pekin asked.
“Gal, you keep asking questions like that and I might have to sent you
off to OCS.”
Kaths and Boats looked at each other than at the young woman. “Naa.”
“Sir, we’re in range.” Kaths typed in commands as he spoke.
“Well, if they want to see what we can do then so do I. . . . Doc,
Skipper, got any more info?”
“Sir, you ain’t going to believe this. We’re lucky to have spotted them.
The Long Range Arrays need adjusting. They’re fluxing over into the Infra Red
zone. We shouldn’t have spotted the vessel. They’re using some type of heat
damping for stealth.”
“Make a report straight to Admiral Green. Put my approval on it. Okay,
guys lets see what these lasers can do to whatever that is. Weapons free.”
Gleefully Kaths hit the key firing the first laser. The big grin that formed
when the light beam hit the target disappeared when it became apparent it
had caused no damage.
“Again, with all four.” remarked the Skipper.
As Kaths fired the full battery Boats yelled, “Incoming.”
“Got the energy blasts spotted. Pekin, maneuver as if they’re missiles.”
The Helm followed her CO’s orders and began performing successful
evasive maneuvers. “That should rock Dejuan out of his bunk.” She
commented.
“Later, Tomcats didn’t those shots hit?”
“Yes sir. Hit with both the lasers and the 75. Nothing’s hurting that
thing.” Kaths was obviously fustrated.
After watching Perkin dodge several more shots from the enemy Roman
made a decision. “Helm, aim directly at the target. Then preform Time Drive
for five second.”
“Ramming?” Again Kaths asked what all were thinking.
“No, the energy time wave we’ll be riding will act as a bumper. It ought
to knock the crap out of that thing.”
Ten seconds after performing the rapid movement Pekin turned the
Viper around to again be aiming at the Undead vessel. As Roman had hoped
that ship was rocking about like a 3D billiard ball.
“Skipper, Doc. That seems to have shaken up the jerks. But it looks like
they’re still going and moving away from us.”
“Yeah, I see that. Pekin, put us on their tail. Evade any shots. Kaths go
ahead and keep firing. Try for its propulsion. Okay guys, we need a
summary. Kaths, did your weapons do any damage?”
“No sir.”
“Doc, did that ram do anything?”
“Shook it up for a moment, but nothing permanent noted.”
“Boats, am I correct. That thing has resumed its course for Columbus?”
“Yes sir.”
“Folks, there’s no way I’m allowing that thing to reach Columbus. . .
. Cheng, Skipper.”
“Yes, Sir, Go ahead.”
“Get the port sponson ready for separation.”
“WHAT?”
“You heard me. I’m going to sent that tube into the enemy.”
“Like hell you will. No way - ”
“Either begin undoing the bolts or stand aside for the new Chief
Engineer.” Roman spoke with full authority.
Cheng threw the recorder against the bulkhead. “Ah shit. It’ll take a
couple of minutes.”
“Cheng. In case you don’t know it, there’s an enemy vessel ahead of us
that’s trying its damness to ruin our day.”
“If you want it quicker than sent your stinking big ass kisser down here
so he can tell you it’ll take a couple of minutes. Now leave me alone! I’ve got
work to do.”
Roman looked at his bridge team. The three were staring at him with
mouths open. “Actually, she took it a lot better than I was expecting.”
“That’s why I don’t want to be an officer.” Boats shook his head and
returned to his arrays.
Three minutes later
“Skipper, Cheng, that piece of shit you ordered is ready.”
“Relax Cheng, I’m already working on a replacement for the sponson.”
Despite a number of bulkheads between them the Captain heard the
Cheng slam a hammer against a bulkhead.
“Got to talk to her about her temper when this is all over.” Roman
calmly remarked. “Pekin, get us about half a click off their stern.”
“Positioned sir.” She reported a minute later.
“Very well. Okay, now here’s what I want the two of you to do next.
Cheng you listening?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Kaths mouthed to Boats, She’s pissed. The latter nodded.
“Cheng, as soon as you feel Viper surge forward release the sponson
and report. Pekin, as soon as Cheng reports the sponson is moving away do
a 90, and Time Drive out of here, a long ways out of here. Cheng, you know
what’s going to happen, so don’t try to screw this up.”
Wham! The sound of more hammers hitting the bulkhead.
Kaths mouthed, I ain’t going near engineering. Boats shook his
head.
“Speed increased.” Pekin reported.
A few seconds later Cheng reported. “Sponson away.”
Without waiting for the proper commands Pekin executed a 90 degree
turn and typed in the command for Time Drive.
As Viper raced away Roman watched on Long Range Visual for the
expected explosion. He hoped Viper would be far enough away.
On impact with the Undead vessel the Time Drive in the Viper’s sponson
reacted. The results was a blast that appeared as if a new star was born.
“Now I remember what kills Undead, fire.”
As Roman spoke standing beside him was Lt. Rivari. “Sir, I could have
told you that. In ancient literature the only way to erase the Undead was by
burning them.”
Calmly the Captain looked at his Comms Officer. “I ain’t got time for
that crap. Get off my bridge. I need to figure out why they did certain things.”
stations. This is not a drill. Captain to the bridge.”
Before Lcdr. Kaths was finished making the announcement Captain
Roman was standing beside him, the reason the captain’s cabin was adjacent
to the ship’s bridge.
“Report.”
“Sir,” Boats made the report. “If you’d look at this on the Long Range
arrays.” He pointed to the radar screens in front of him. “That’s got to be a
large destroyer or small cruiser from the size of that blip.”
“Coming in from the abyss, huh?” Roman studied as he spoke. “What’s
IFF say?”
“Nothing.” Tomcat remarked. “It’s not making any type of signal.”
“All the human vessels are entered into the data base, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Tomcat replied. “All the ships that sail these voids, Elves,
Hobbs, human, etc. Sir, that has to be one of those Undead vessels. Any
word from the Sposts?”
“Nothing. What’s the projected course?”
“Columbus.”
“Ah, say that again.”
“Yes, sir.” Boats answered this time. “I’ve got it on a course towards
home. Don’t ask sir, I’ve checked four times. We got us a raider at best.”
“Raiders try to be unseen.” Roman sat in his chair.
“Sir, what if they thought they’d be unseen coming in from the abyss?”
Not much traffic ever in that area, usually none.”
“Good question Pekin. Normally that should be a good guess. But the
bones or whatever the hell they are surely have to know the Sposts are
watching them and that they’re friendly with us.”
“Sir, what if they don’t know about you and the spooks?”
Roman took a long look at the young petty officer. “That’s something I
hadn’t considered. Right now back to the matter at hand. We don’t need the
Sposts to tell us something is coming our way. Kaths you’re relieved. Get all
weapons on line. We’ve got no idea what’s going to stop that thing. Yes, we’
re going in.” Roman paused to look at the look of amazement on their faces.
“Right now we’re the only thing between it and our countrymen living on
Columbus. Boats, sent this message to Fleet, personal for Admiral Green,
classification, Code Alpha Red Seven. Undead destroyer inbound for
Columbus. Viper only thing in between. Will intercept. Boats add this position.
. . . Pekin, maintain this course and speed.”
For several minutes, Roman sat in the captain’s chair thinking, Lcdr
Kaths adjusted the ships weapons, Boats sent the message and returned to
studying the intruder and Helm wondered what was going on.
“Sir, two minutes to weapons’ range.” Kaths reported.
“Lock on.”
“Sir, you going to try to talk to them first?” Kaths asked what the rest of
the bridge team was wondering.
“No. They don’t think, at least not like us. Damn it. I wish I could
remember what the Sposts said will destroy the bastards.”
“You could ask them.” Boats thought it was a good idea.
“Not with them this close. Never know how long the Sposts are going to
talk and I want to be mentally onboard when we go into combat. . . . What,
no comments Boats?”
“Sir, despite the fact you set me up beautifully, I’d get court marshaled
for the cracks I want to make.”
“Did set you up didn’t I. Okay, have all stations reported in they’re ready
for combat?”
“Yes sir.” Boats replied.
“Weapons are ready sir.” Kaths remarked.
“Sir, Viper seems eager to get in close.” Pekin commented.
“Good.” Roman patted the overhead. “Okay gal, that bastard is
probably better armed than you. But you’re the most agile ship I know. Lets
use your twist and shout abilities to their max.”
When the ship did a juke that the Helm reported she did not perform
Roman again patted the overhead and smiled.
“Doc, Skipper.”
“Sir, don’t ask. We haven’t given you a report cause we ain’t got
anything to report. Except for the fact it’s a large destroyer type we know
nothing.”
“No readings of any type?” Asked a surprised veteran ship driver.
“Sir, Long Range Visual shows there’s something emitting some form
lighting on that thing. But none of our sensors are picking up anything. It’s as
if that was a block of ice.”
“Maybe it is. Have you tried infra-red?”
“Sir?”
“Infra-red. That old method of reading heat.”
“Damn, forgot all about that thing. Be right back with you.”
A minute later.
“Skipper Doc. Got that reading.”
“Well, you going to report or do I wait for the email?”
“Sir. Space is warmer than that thing. By reversing the readings we
spotted ten moving critters. A pair of some type of propulsion back aft. I think
we’re found some gun mounts, but I won’t swear by it. Now that we know
how to find something out about it there’s a few other scans I want to run.
Will let you know.”
“Only a crew of ten?” Roman asked himself out loud.
“Sir, what if it’s another probe? They want to see how we react to a
ship this size.” Pekin asked.
“Gal, you keep asking questions like that and I might have to sent you
off to OCS.”
Kaths and Boats looked at each other than at the young woman. “Naa.”
“Sir, we’re in range.” Kaths typed in commands as he spoke.
“Well, if they want to see what we can do then so do I. . . . Doc,
Skipper, got any more info?”
“Sir, you ain’t going to believe this. We’re lucky to have spotted them.
The Long Range Arrays need adjusting. They’re fluxing over into the Infra Red
zone. We shouldn’t have spotted the vessel. They’re using some type of heat
damping for stealth.”
“Make a report straight to Admiral Green. Put my approval on it. Okay,
guys lets see what these lasers can do to whatever that is. Weapons free.”
Gleefully Kaths hit the key firing the first laser. The big grin that formed
when the light beam hit the target disappeared when it became apparent it
had caused no damage.
“Again, with all four.” remarked the Skipper.
As Kaths fired the full battery Boats yelled, “Incoming.”
“Got the energy blasts spotted. Pekin, maneuver as if they’re missiles.”
The Helm followed her CO’s orders and began performing successful
evasive maneuvers. “That should rock Dejuan out of his bunk.” She
commented.
“Later, Tomcats didn’t those shots hit?”
“Yes sir. Hit with both the lasers and the 75. Nothing’s hurting that
thing.” Kaths was obviously fustrated.
After watching Perkin dodge several more shots from the enemy Roman
made a decision. “Helm, aim directly at the target. Then preform Time Drive
for five second.”
“Ramming?” Again Kaths asked what all were thinking.
“No, the energy time wave we’ll be riding will act as a bumper. It ought
to knock the crap out of that thing.”
Ten seconds after performing the rapid movement Pekin turned the
Viper around to again be aiming at the Undead vessel. As Roman had hoped
that ship was rocking about like a 3D billiard ball.
“Skipper, Doc. That seems to have shaken up the jerks. But it looks like
they’re still going and moving away from us.”
“Yeah, I see that. Pekin, put us on their tail. Evade any shots. Kaths go
ahead and keep firing. Try for its propulsion. Okay guys, we need a
summary. Kaths, did your weapons do any damage?”
“No sir.”
“Doc, did that ram do anything?”
“Shook it up for a moment, but nothing permanent noted.”
“Boats, am I correct. That thing has resumed its course for Columbus?”
“Yes sir.”
“Folks, there’s no way I’m allowing that thing to reach Columbus. . .
. Cheng, Skipper.”
“Yes, Sir, Go ahead.”
“Get the port sponson ready for separation.”
“WHAT?”
“You heard me. I’m going to sent that tube into the enemy.”
“Like hell you will. No way - ”
“Either begin undoing the bolts or stand aside for the new Chief
Engineer.” Roman spoke with full authority.
Cheng threw the recorder against the bulkhead. “Ah shit. It’ll take a
couple of minutes.”
“Cheng. In case you don’t know it, there’s an enemy vessel ahead of us
that’s trying its damness to ruin our day.”
“If you want it quicker than sent your stinking big ass kisser down here
so he can tell you it’ll take a couple of minutes. Now leave me alone! I’ve got
work to do.”
Roman looked at his bridge team. The three were staring at him with
mouths open. “Actually, she took it a lot better than I was expecting.”
“That’s why I don’t want to be an officer.” Boats shook his head and
returned to his arrays.
Three minutes later
“Skipper, Cheng, that piece of shit you ordered is ready.”
“Relax Cheng, I’m already working on a replacement for the sponson.”
Despite a number of bulkheads between them the Captain heard the
Cheng slam a hammer against a bulkhead.
“Got to talk to her about her temper when this is all over.” Roman
calmly remarked. “Pekin, get us about half a click off their stern.”
“Positioned sir.” She reported a minute later.
“Very well. Okay, now here’s what I want the two of you to do next.
Cheng you listening?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Kaths mouthed to Boats, She’s pissed. The latter nodded.
“Cheng, as soon as you feel Viper surge forward release the sponson
and report. Pekin, as soon as Cheng reports the sponson is moving away do
a 90, and Time Drive out of here, a long ways out of here. Cheng, you know
what’s going to happen, so don’t try to screw this up.”
Wham! The sound of more hammers hitting the bulkhead.
Kaths mouthed, I ain’t going near engineering. Boats shook his
head.
“Speed increased.” Pekin reported.
A few seconds later Cheng reported. “Sponson away.”
Without waiting for the proper commands Pekin executed a 90 degree
turn and typed in the command for Time Drive.
As Viper raced away Roman watched on Long Range Visual for the
expected explosion. He hoped Viper would be far enough away.
On impact with the Undead vessel the Time Drive in the Viper’s sponson
reacted. The results was a blast that appeared as if a new star was born.
“Now I remember what kills Undead, fire.”
As Roman spoke standing beside him was Lt. Rivari. “Sir, I could have
told you that. In ancient literature the only way to erase the Undead was by
burning them.”
Calmly the Captain looked at his Comms Officer. “I ain’t got time for
that crap. Get off my bridge. I need to figure out why they did certain things.”