| Short Story #7 |
| Powder Monkey January 2012 |
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| CSS VIPER Patrol Log #146 2 December 2286 Near the Imperial Border An Early Present. by Roger C. Campbell |
“All hands, this is the Captain. We’re about to cross the Imperial border. It’s been
twenty years since I serve in that navy so my knowledge is limited to Intell reports,
which we all know the accuracy of. . . .Back to my point. There’s good reason to
believe the Empire has listening gear sensitive enough to hear you talking several light
years away. From this point until we recross the border keep all talking to only what is
required and then keep it to a whisper. While this is not your typical raid, folks this is a
raid. We’re in the hot seat for a while. May the solar winds forever fill our sails.”
“Sir, ever do a raid like this?” Spotted Gray asked.
“No, when I was doing raids we didn’t have the equipment we have now. Then the
amount of preps that would have been required would have been extensive. I think
Captain Jack’s the only one who could have pulled off a raid like this one.”
“I haven’t hear of him.”
“The best raider ever, bar none. Raided Venerite ports like they were his private
basins. The Veneites hate and worship him. Gee, I wonder what he couldn’t raid with
this ship. Bet he’d even try a trip into the Venerite Emperor’s private port. Meet him
once. What a leader. He could get Dejuan to act like a chief.”
“No way!” Both Spotted Gray and Miller yelled at the same time.
“Yipe, he could. Hear a lot of good things about him. Sir, you ever studied his
tactics?” Boats asked.
“No. He once said there were no tactics when it came to raiding. Each raid is
different. You look at the various factors and put them together in the order you think
will work. Then PRAY!”
“That’s encouraging. Sir, I haven’t steered much with the sheet on.”
“Don’t worry about it. Suppose to stay on even at light speed. Damn it, almost
forgot something. . . . Doc, Skipper.”
“Go ahead, Sir.”
“Get the charts out. Take a detail look at the New Chicago solar system. I want the
angle we’re going to be approaching to be such that we’re going in with the star
between us and the planet. Let me know what type of dog leg we’ll have to take.”
“No problem. What about before then? You really want this route?”
“Yes, sometimes the best way to remain unseen is to be seen. This is a normal
shipping lane. As long as no one gets within visual we can simply act as a merchant. No
one says a word about that being the mission.”
All remember the last contact with merchants. A lot of laughter was heard.
“Down, remember we keep it quiet. Now let’s hope we have some luck.”
#
For a week the trip drove the crew stir crazy, they were not use to moving about
space at the slow speed most merchants sailed at. The bridge team was often asked, Are
we there yet?
“Skipper, Doc.”
“Go ahead.”
“Sir, New Chicago’s solar system in two hours. Looks like you’re going to get your
wish. We’ll be entering the system with the planet on the opposite side.”
“Great. . . . Helm, plot a course that puts us in the same orbit as New Chicago
except on the opposite side of the star.” Roman turned on his monitor and began looking
at charts. ”Doc, Skipper, I don’t see any other planets.”
“None to see. New Chicago is the only one.”
“Good, that should give the stealth sheet time to power up without any nosy
Imperials snooping about. Okay. Doc, from here on we use runners for all comms. I
know they can pick us up inside the system.”
#
“Boats, all stations reported?”
“Yes, sir. Crew’s at Battle Stations. Weapons has all guns- ”
“No. Tomcat, put the weapons on five second stand by. I want no possibility of
them accidently firing.”
“Lt. Rivari, Skipper. You set to dance?”
“Just tell me when.”
“Just remember under no circumstances are the Imperials to get their hands on the
computer logs. This ship will be destroyed first. Does everyone understand me?
Rivari reported he did and those on the bridge replied yes.
Roman looked out the portal. He smiled when nothing was seen. “Let’s hope we
got enough power in that thing. Helm, break orbit, take the shortest orbital course to
New Chicago. If any of you are religious types now’s the time to say a pray. Add one
for me if you would.”
#
“Sir, got a good visual on the anchorage, orders?” Miller studied an anchorage that
seem to out of sight in all directions.
“Steady as she goes. Let’s head for that black vessel at 004. Boats, you got sound
powered comms with Cheng?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Tell her to get the present ready. . . . Miller, that black bastard is what I
want. Get about one hundred meters off her and aim the stern at her.”
“Sir, why the back vessel?” Spotted gray asked.
“Pumas are almost always black and this port has a history of letting the bastards
home port here. We might be able to change that. . . . Tell Cheng to go ahead and
Darken Ship in the hangar bay.”
Once the stealth vessel rotated to the desired direction Roman walked over and
over ruled Miller’s consol. Slowly he moved Viper back toward the puma. “Boats, tell
Cheng, now.”
In the hangar bay two men in environment suits and a huge Brethren mushroom
waited for the bay to be depressurized and the rear door’s force field disengaged.
As one man lifted the seven foot round mushroom the other smeared glue to the
fungus’ stem’s bottom. After careful aiming, the mushroom was shoved toward the
puma. A pair of smiles appeared when the fungus appeared to stick to the target’s hull.
The waving of their arms told Cheng it was safe to report the present was delivered.
As Viper rotated so its nose was now pointed towards the puma it also moved
away. At what he felt was still a sure hit distance Roman tapped Spotted Gray on the
shoulder, the signal for her to send a special built 75mm shell into the mushroom.
When hit the mushroom did the expected thing, its no noise, non spectacular
explosion caused the puma to move in the opposite direction. Not expecting the
movement the puma’s crew were not able to react fast enough to stop their vessel from
banging into another. That ship’s crew was not able to avoid hitting a third ship.
As the Viper slipped away Roman bit his hand to ensure he did not make any noise.
He wanted to jump up and down. This was going to be far more successful than he had
hoped. The last count he had before visibility was lost, seven vessels were
damaged.
Next was what was considered the hardest part of any raid, the exit. How long
would the sheet keep its stealth? As long as it did Viper was safe. Wanting to take
advantage of Viper’s extensive travels through the edge of and in the abyss Roman
headed there. In the openness of the abyss no ship could catch the Viper. Once the Viper
crossed the border back into Confederate space the Captain allowed his crew to enjoy a
loud celebration.
#
Officers’ dining area, Elksberg Station.
“Since you won’t tell me how you slipped in undetected I’ve got to presume those
Sposts had something to do with it.” Hans studied his friend trying to see how Andy
reacted to his statement.
“You can presume anything you want.”
“If you’re trying to make me jealous, you succeeded. Okay, you won’t tell me about
all the toys the spooks- ”
“Been talking to Chief Scapin?”
“Huh?”
“He likes to call the aliens spooks. Hans I told you, don’t ask questions. Much of
want you want to know I honestly don’t know. The Sposts don’t tell me everything. In
fact I do a lot of hair pulling cause they only tell me half of what I need. Now the half I
do know, don’t ask. I can’t tell you because of Richmond. Hell, you know a lot more
than Richmond does.”
“What?”
“Admiral Green is the only one there who knows a lot. But there’s a lot we don’t
tell him. We ain’t telling him about this raid.”
“What? Wh . . . You don’t want him sending you out on a bunch of those raids.
Okay, that I can understand. Andy big question I got is, why you? Why have the Sposts
taken you under their wings? I like you, been a great friend. Made Commodore, so you
got something going there. But you’re nothing special as far as the entire galaxy goes.
And how do I fit in?”
“Thanks I think. They told me they want the human race to slowly learn about them.
You were picked cause you’re a good friend in another nation. As for why me, I don’t
know. They act as if there’s something going to happen in the near future in which I and
Viper are the key parts. Don’t ask, I have no idea if you’re involved. For right now it’s
time to bask in the glory of pulling off a raid even Captain Jack would be proud of.”
Two officers stood and offered a toast.
“To Jack where ever he is. May he raid forever.”
twenty years since I serve in that navy so my knowledge is limited to Intell reports,
which we all know the accuracy of. . . .Back to my point. There’s good reason to
believe the Empire has listening gear sensitive enough to hear you talking several light
years away. From this point until we recross the border keep all talking to only what is
required and then keep it to a whisper. While this is not your typical raid, folks this is a
raid. We’re in the hot seat for a while. May the solar winds forever fill our sails.”
“Sir, ever do a raid like this?” Spotted Gray asked.
“No, when I was doing raids we didn’t have the equipment we have now. Then the
amount of preps that would have been required would have been extensive. I think
Captain Jack’s the only one who could have pulled off a raid like this one.”
“I haven’t hear of him.”
“The best raider ever, bar none. Raided Venerite ports like they were his private
basins. The Veneites hate and worship him. Gee, I wonder what he couldn’t raid with
this ship. Bet he’d even try a trip into the Venerite Emperor’s private port. Meet him
once. What a leader. He could get Dejuan to act like a chief.”
“No way!” Both Spotted Gray and Miller yelled at the same time.
“Yipe, he could. Hear a lot of good things about him. Sir, you ever studied his
tactics?” Boats asked.
“No. He once said there were no tactics when it came to raiding. Each raid is
different. You look at the various factors and put them together in the order you think
will work. Then PRAY!”
“That’s encouraging. Sir, I haven’t steered much with the sheet on.”
“Don’t worry about it. Suppose to stay on even at light speed. Damn it, almost
forgot something. . . . Doc, Skipper.”
“Go ahead, Sir.”
“Get the charts out. Take a detail look at the New Chicago solar system. I want the
angle we’re going to be approaching to be such that we’re going in with the star
between us and the planet. Let me know what type of dog leg we’ll have to take.”
“No problem. What about before then? You really want this route?”
“Yes, sometimes the best way to remain unseen is to be seen. This is a normal
shipping lane. As long as no one gets within visual we can simply act as a merchant. No
one says a word about that being the mission.”
All remember the last contact with merchants. A lot of laughter was heard.
“Down, remember we keep it quiet. Now let’s hope we have some luck.”
#
For a week the trip drove the crew stir crazy, they were not use to moving about
space at the slow speed most merchants sailed at. The bridge team was often asked, Are
we there yet?
“Skipper, Doc.”
“Go ahead.”
“Sir, New Chicago’s solar system in two hours. Looks like you’re going to get your
wish. We’ll be entering the system with the planet on the opposite side.”
“Great. . . . Helm, plot a course that puts us in the same orbit as New Chicago
except on the opposite side of the star.” Roman turned on his monitor and began looking
at charts. ”Doc, Skipper, I don’t see any other planets.”
“None to see. New Chicago is the only one.”
“Good, that should give the stealth sheet time to power up without any nosy
Imperials snooping about. Okay. Doc, from here on we use runners for all comms. I
know they can pick us up inside the system.”
#
“Boats, all stations reported?”
“Yes, sir. Crew’s at Battle Stations. Weapons has all guns- ”
“No. Tomcat, put the weapons on five second stand by. I want no possibility of
them accidently firing.”
“Lt. Rivari, Skipper. You set to dance?”
“Just tell me when.”
“Just remember under no circumstances are the Imperials to get their hands on the
computer logs. This ship will be destroyed first. Does everyone understand me?
Rivari reported he did and those on the bridge replied yes.
Roman looked out the portal. He smiled when nothing was seen. “Let’s hope we
got enough power in that thing. Helm, break orbit, take the shortest orbital course to
New Chicago. If any of you are religious types now’s the time to say a pray. Add one
for me if you would.”
#
“Sir, got a good visual on the anchorage, orders?” Miller studied an anchorage that
seem to out of sight in all directions.
“Steady as she goes. Let’s head for that black vessel at 004. Boats, you got sound
powered comms with Cheng?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Tell her to get the present ready. . . . Miller, that black bastard is what I
want. Get about one hundred meters off her and aim the stern at her.”
“Sir, why the back vessel?” Spotted gray asked.
“Pumas are almost always black and this port has a history of letting the bastards
home port here. We might be able to change that. . . . Tell Cheng to go ahead and
Darken Ship in the hangar bay.”
Once the stealth vessel rotated to the desired direction Roman walked over and
over ruled Miller’s consol. Slowly he moved Viper back toward the puma. “Boats, tell
Cheng, now.”
In the hangar bay two men in environment suits and a huge Brethren mushroom
waited for the bay to be depressurized and the rear door’s force field disengaged.
As one man lifted the seven foot round mushroom the other smeared glue to the
fungus’ stem’s bottom. After careful aiming, the mushroom was shoved toward the
puma. A pair of smiles appeared when the fungus appeared to stick to the target’s hull.
The waving of their arms told Cheng it was safe to report the present was delivered.
As Viper rotated so its nose was now pointed towards the puma it also moved
away. At what he felt was still a sure hit distance Roman tapped Spotted Gray on the
shoulder, the signal for her to send a special built 75mm shell into the mushroom.
When hit the mushroom did the expected thing, its no noise, non spectacular
explosion caused the puma to move in the opposite direction. Not expecting the
movement the puma’s crew were not able to react fast enough to stop their vessel from
banging into another. That ship’s crew was not able to avoid hitting a third ship.
As the Viper slipped away Roman bit his hand to ensure he did not make any noise.
He wanted to jump up and down. This was going to be far more successful than he had
hoped. The last count he had before visibility was lost, seven vessels were
damaged.
Next was what was considered the hardest part of any raid, the exit. How long
would the sheet keep its stealth? As long as it did Viper was safe. Wanting to take
advantage of Viper’s extensive travels through the edge of and in the abyss Roman
headed there. In the openness of the abyss no ship could catch the Viper. Once the Viper
crossed the border back into Confederate space the Captain allowed his crew to enjoy a
loud celebration.
#
Officers’ dining area, Elksberg Station.
“Since you won’t tell me how you slipped in undetected I’ve got to presume those
Sposts had something to do with it.” Hans studied his friend trying to see how Andy
reacted to his statement.
“You can presume anything you want.”
“If you’re trying to make me jealous, you succeeded. Okay, you won’t tell me about
all the toys the spooks- ”
“Been talking to Chief Scapin?”
“Huh?”
“He likes to call the aliens spooks. Hans I told you, don’t ask questions. Much of
want you want to know I honestly don’t know. The Sposts don’t tell me everything. In
fact I do a lot of hair pulling cause they only tell me half of what I need. Now the half I
do know, don’t ask. I can’t tell you because of Richmond. Hell, you know a lot more
than Richmond does.”
“What?”
“Admiral Green is the only one there who knows a lot. But there’s a lot we don’t
tell him. We ain’t telling him about this raid.”
“What? Wh . . . You don’t want him sending you out on a bunch of those raids.
Okay, that I can understand. Andy big question I got is, why you? Why have the Sposts
taken you under their wings? I like you, been a great friend. Made Commodore, so you
got something going there. But you’re nothing special as far as the entire galaxy goes.
And how do I fit in?”
“Thanks I think. They told me they want the human race to slowly learn about them.
You were picked cause you’re a good friend in another nation. As for why me, I don’t
know. They act as if there’s something going to happen in the near future in which I and
Viper are the key parts. Don’t ask, I have no idea if you’re involved. For right now it’s
time to bask in the glory of pulling off a raid even Captain Jack would be proud of.”
Two officers stood and offered a toast.
“To Jack where ever he is. May he raid forever.”