Chapter 11 The Meat Run
Ford sat alone in the Themis ready room and rolled his eyes back till just the whites were showing and slipped into the dataverse to commune with Gaia. Something was wrong, they both sensed it, and it wasn’t Jasper either. The interface Jackson had built into his cybernetics was powerful, but extremely limited in focus. One could feel it in the form of Jasper’s actions and the impact they had on the possibilities and probabilities that flowed around them. It was chaotic and random, like the character of the man himself. A destabilising influence in the universal order of things, but he had no awareness of the dataverse itself. He honed in on the brightest star in the dataverse, the data node that represented Gaia. The node shifted into the form of the avatar she'd used when they’d first met her deep in the heart of Anobar.
She smiled warmly at Ford and nodded. “I feel it too, someone else is here trying to manipulate the data streams.”
“Perhaps another ark, one of your sisters has been discovered and activated?” mused Ford.
“No. I would sense her if the firewalls that separate us had been broken, this is more localised, primitive in relative technological terms.” she studied him intently.
He squirmed uncomfortably, despite the fact he was merely bits and bytes of data himself in this realm. “You’re suggesting that someone has put together artefacts I acquired as relic hunter and found a way to enter and manipulate the dataverse?”
She frowned. “Perhaps, but I did not mean to imply blame. We know that Jasper has some of our tech implanted in him, but that is localised in its effect and he has little understanding of its full potential. Others may have escaped with or acquired similar technology, which they are now attempting to develop and deploy.”
So what do we do? How can we stop them?” asked Ford.
“For now we do nothing, I will monitor the situation and attempt to isolate and identify the intrusion.”
“There is one other thing.” asked Ford. “Could it trigger a first contact situation with the Ancients, if too many people start poking around in the dataverse? Because our ‘friends’ the Brethren seem to think they’re coming back to pass judgement on us.”
“Unknown, although I believe that it is unlikely. Their believe system appears to be based on an incomplete understanding of the role and function of the arks and their guardians.” she paused. “We must continue this conversation later, Themis and Alaster need you, they have detected a distress signal.”
Ford sighed as he rolled his bloodshot eyes back down and terminated the link to return to the physical world. “You know what they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
He pulled himself out of the chair in the ready room and made his way to the bridge. Everyone was edgy. They’d all been pulling double shifts since leaving Anobar. So in the end he’d found himself delegating more and more functions to the ships AI Alaster. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, but this was a living, part organic, vessel and a juvenile at that too. It needed time adjust and acclimatise like any other crew member, something none of them looked like getting anytime soon.
Lucy was already at the helm and Carol had taken over the comm station when he arrived on the bridge. “What have we got?”
“A distress signal from a cargo train, the SS Amastra. It seems they’ve developed a fault in their wormhole generator.” said Carol transmitting the co-ordinates to his console.
Ford sucked the air in between his teeth. “Their right on top of the buffer zone between human and Anterian space. Lucy lets plot an intercept course before those flesh eaters start getting peckish.”
Lucy nodded and started making the necessary course adjustments as he turned to Carol. “Any idea on the crew compliment or what they’re carrying?”
“Negative. I’ll get Alaster to match their transponder codes against the local databases and see what I can up with. In the meantime I’ll try and raise them. Amastra this is Themis, acknowledging and responding to your distress call, do you copy?”
There was nothing but the hiss of static, she tried again, still nothing.
“Perhaps it’s an Anterian trap, Amastra was the hors d'oeuvre and were the main course?” suggested Lucy.
“That’s not funny you know.” Carol snapped back.
“I never said I was joking, ETA to Amastra five minutes.”
“Ok that enough you two.” said Ford. “Sound general quarters, I want us battle ready well before we’re in range, but let’s keep everything powered down for now. So it looks like we’re answer their distress call in good faith.”
“Acknowledged, Anna is standing by in medical, Bryson, Bryn, and David are on their way to the bridge.”
“Tell Bryson I want him in the Phoenix with Alpha team fully armed and equipped for boarding just in case.” Lucky stood up to leave. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To fly the Phoenix.”
“I’m giving that job to Jay, I need you here and don’t even think about answering back.” Something in his tone made her think twice about saying anything. Carol looked at him coolly. “Tell Jay he’s got the Phoenix and he’d better bring it back in one piece for all our sakes.”
Carol nodded. “I’m getting a response from the Amastra, sound only no vision, putting it on an open channel.
Themis this is the Captain Scott of the Amastra you have our apologies.”
“Apologies?” Ford said in a quizzical tone, as Bryn and David arrived on the bridge taking up the sensor and weapons stations.
“Yes our Chief’s a little jumpy, hell we all are this close to Anterian space, but we’ll be up and running in no time, so assistance is not required.”
“It’s no trouble Captain Scott we’d be happy to assist in any way we can.” replied Ford.
“That really won’t be necessary our chief has everything under control. In fact I’m tempted to throw him in the brig, when we’re out of here, for wasting your time.”
“Well in that case I’m more than happy to ride shotgun for you. I think you’ll find were more than a match for any Anterian vessels that come looking for something to snack on.”
“I’m flattered, but that really won’t be necessary Captain? I’m sorry I don’t believe I got your name?”
‘Something to snack on’ mouthed Carol with a look of pure disgust on her face as she gestured to him to cut the channel.
“One moment Captain Scott.” said Ford muting his end of the channel. “What have you got?”
Carol turned to face Ford. “Apart from you terrible bad taste and sense of comic timing Alaster has just come up trumps on the SS Amastra. It seems she was reported missing, with all hands, presumed lost, six months ago. Local law enforcement believes it was Raiders.”
“What about our friend Captain Scott?”
“That’s the captain’s name alright according to the crew manifest, but I doubt very much the man you’ve just been speaking to is her.”
Ford reopened the channel. “Sorry to keep you waiting ‘Captain Scott’ the names Ford Guardian Ford, and I’d like to invite you aboard for a medical.”
“MEDICAL?”
“Yes it seems my ships doctor thinks you may have something seriously wrong with your vocal chords.”
They’ve terminated communications.” said Carol.
“Sensors indicate they’re powering up their wormhole generator and they’ve just blown the emergency release on their cargo pods.” added Bryn.
“Target their wormhole drive, just enough to take it off-line. Tell Jay and Bryson to launch the Phoenix and board it, expect resistance and use lethal force as the situation dictates.”
“Aye, aye.” said Carol and David in unison.
“The Phoenix is away, but I’m getting multiple wormholes forming in the buffer zone, eight targets, there all Anterian vessels.” said Bryn. “A command ship, three strikers and four haulers.”
“Ok people now it gets interesting.” said Ford. “Whatever is in those cargo p
ods it’s my guess the Anterian’s want them, so it’s our job to stop them. I want everyone to focus on the task in hand and delegate anything you can’t handle to Alaster, am I clear?” there was a general mummer of agreement. “Good now let’s bring it, hail the lead Anterian ship.”
“No response.”
“Give me an open channel now.”
“It’s all yours.” replied Carol.
“Anterian vessels this Guardian Ford of the starship Themis you are instructed to withdraw from the buffer zone immediately. You are interfering with a search and recovery mission. Any incursion into human space will be considered a hostile act and met with deadly force.”
“No response.” said Carol. “They're ignoring us.”
“Oh I wouldn’t say that.” said Bryn. “They’re powering up their weapons. The lead ship is coming after us and the haulers are going after the cargo pods, with the strikers as escorts. But on the plus side their ignoring the Phoenix. Which is more than can be said for the Amastra, she’s targeting them.”
Ford looked at Lucy. “Ok people the Phoenix is in good hands, they can take care of themselves. So let’s focus on our own tasks. All weapons free to fire. Leave the ship-to-ship defences to Alaster, target the forward missile batteries, rail guns and plasma cannons on that lead ship, all other weapons on the haulers and strikers. I don’t know and I don’t care what’s in those pods, but they‘re not getting them. I'll blow them up first if I have too.”
The bridge erupted into life. Beads of perspiration running down David’s face as he frantically tried to co-ordinate attacks on eight different targets. Less than a third of the guns were actually manned and they were relying heavily on Alaster, the ships AI, to make good the shortfall and even he was struggling to keep up with the pace of the battle. They were that busy focusing the full force of their forward weapon arrays on the lead vessel, coming straight down their throat, the Haulers were in danger of getting through and capturing the cargo pods.
“The pods are drifting towards the buffer zone, the lead hauler is nearly on top of one.” yelled Bryn.
“I’ve got it.” replied David as he loosed off a full salvo of missiles and switched the forward rail and plasma guns to automatic before spinning the main batteries secondary weapons round to target the hauler sending a stream of white hot slugs from the rail guns towards it.
“Phoenix has taken a few hits, but reporting no damage, there locking on the Amastra’s hull and starting to cut through.” confirmed Carol.
“The lead hauler has just exploded and fragged a cargo pod in the process…” Bryn paused and rechecked the sensors before turning to Ford. “I think I know why they want the cargo pods they're full of people. I'm detecting multiple life forms in the debris field, humans, Talmari and Hyneari, as well as Anterian.”
“Boarding party is in and taking heavy fire, they’re fighting their way towards the bridge.” yelled Carol above the confusion of battle.
“I’ve disabled another hauler the rest are breaking off.” whooped David.
“The main ship is breaking off its attack, it’s taken heavy damage. Wait, its targeting the cargo pods and launching a missile barrage. The strikers are coming around and heading straight for us.” said Bryn frantically trying keep up with the constant flow of data from the sensors. “I’ve also got a new contact, an unidentified ship, it’s just jumped into the system between us and the Amastra.”
“Ignore it unless it targets us. Alaster I want all ship-to-ship point defences to lay down flak between the pods and the missiles now.” ordered Ford. “David I want everything else targeted on the lead ship, Lucy get us between them and the pods now!”
“That’s going to leave us wide open to those strikers.” said David shaking his head.
“Just do it!” snapped Ford. “All hands prepare to be boarded and ready for combat.”
“The other ship is launching fighters. Four, five, six confirmed launches.”
“What’s their target?”
“Their locking on an intercept course for the strikers, looks like the Calvary has arrived.” said Bryn with a huge smile of relief on his face.
“We’re not out of this yet, everyone stay sharp and do your jobs.” Ford replied as the ship shudder under their feet. “Steady Alaster, we’re going to get through this.” he whispered under his breath, sensing the organic AI’s unease, or perhaps it was the crews unease. Transmitted back to him through Alaster’s perceptual filters, via the neural interfaces that linked them all into AI.
Lucy swung the Themis around, straight into the path of the strikers screaming towards them, to use her as a shield to protect the cargo pods from further attacks. The Anterian missiles erupted harmlessly in a fierce wall of flak laid down by Alaster. While David fired everything he could at the command ship, multiple detonations rippling along the front of its hull. Suddenly a sickening vibration ran through the Themis and the deck trembled under their feet. They could feel the ships pain in the neural feedback.
“What the hell was that?” shouted David firing off a fresh volley of missiles at the stricken command ship to relieve his frustration.
“Disrupter missiles.” Bryn yelled back. “The strikers have punched a hole in our shields and are deploying boarding drills.”
“Those flesh eating bastards are going to drill straight through the hull, where’s your fragging Calvary now Bryn? “ demanded Carol.
Before Bryn could answer the unidentified fighters screamed across their prow in two waves of three. Their cannons spitting a deadly stream of white hot, rail accelerated, projectiles between them and the strikers. One of the strikers took a direct hit to the engine before veering off course and ploughing into a second. They both erupted into a ball of flame and debris that came cart wheeling through the hole in their shields, crashing into and bouncing of the hull again. The tangled wreckage, finding itself trapped between the ship and its shields, went skidding crazily down their flank. Scorching and scouring side of the Themis’s as it went. Ripping gouges in her smooth golden skin. Finally falling into their wake and being blasted into dust by their engines. There was dull reverberating thud as the third and final striker hit them full on burying itself in their hull.
“Reports of a Hull breach in sector seven, we’re being boarded and taking casualties.” yelled Carol.
“Tell the crew in that sector to fall back to the med bay and barricade themselves in till we can get there. Seal the emergency bulkheads and isolate the incursion.” commanded Ford.
“The command ship has lost its weapons and shields. I’m detecting multiple hull breeches, she’s coming around to ram us.” reported Bryn.
“I’m on it.” snapped David throwing everything they had left at the ship bearing down on them.
“Our mystery friends, the Calvary, have fragged the last of the haulers and are targeting the command ships engines.” added Bryn with a smile.
With it shields and weapons gone, and its hull compromised, the command ship was no match for firepower the Themis brought to bear on it. A series of explosive decompressions blew debris and crew out into space as David ripped into it relentlessly with rail guns and plasma cannons. Tearing the few remaining intact sections of its hull apart with ruthless efficiency, before obliterating the bridge with a salvo of missiles, that broke the ships back. As it split in two the mysterious fighters that had joined them made another pass. Spitting everything they had into the stricken ships unshielded engines and reactor cores. A series of devastating explosions erupted in quick succession, reducing what was left of the Anterian vessel to pile of drifting scrap in seconds. Spinning uncontrollable through space it bounced harmlessly of their still intact starboard shields.
“Incoming transmission from the Amastra sound and visual.” shouted Carol. “Putting it on screen let’s hope it’s good news.”
They were greeted by a swarthy raider with a sardonic smile, crew cut jet black hair, a heavy five o’clock shadow and a leather eye patch strapped acros
s his left eye. His crude black leather tunic was undone, revealing a sweat stained, dirty grey, t-shirt underneath. He held a smoking gauss gun alongside his cold blue good eye.
“This is Captain Scott ‘Ford’.” he emphasised the last word, literally spitting Ford’s name out onto the deck in front of him and subconsciously grinding it into the deck platting with his heel. “I’m afraid I’m going to have pass on the offer of a medical, which is a shame as I really need to do something about the eye.“ He tapped the side of his head with the muzzle of his gun.
“What’s happened to Jay, Bryson and the others?” blurted Lucy.
“Oh, how sweet, someone’s got a love interest on my ship? It’s about time we had some female entertainment, care to join us?” he smirked.
“Go to hell.” she snapped back.
“You really need to get your crew under control Ford, I’d never tolerate such insubordination, especially when I’ve got one of these in my hand.” he kissed the side of his gauss gun lovingly, to much raucous laughter from his crew behind him and off screen. “You won’t believe the good times we’ve had together.”
“Well I for one am looking forwarding to terminating your relationship.” Ford replied coldly.
“Tsk. Tsk. That’s no way to treat a man when he’s got your crew over as guests, but don’t worry your friends are safe for now. I know someone who will pay very good money for them. Looks like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Be seeing you.” he saluted ironically as cut the transmission.
“I’ve got a wormhole forming, they’re jumping.” cried Bryn.
“How?” asked David. “I disabled their wormhole generator, frag it, and I can’t get a clean shot with that other vessel between us and them. Lucy get me a clean line of sight now.”
“It’s not happening. At least not in time to stop them jumping with those cargo pods drifting around us.” said Lucy punching the console in front of her in anger and frustration.
“They’re gone.” said Bryn. “My guess is they jacked into the Phoenix’s wormhole drive and used it to jump both ships.”
There were tears forming in Lucy’s eyes.
Ford stood up and pulled out his heavy combat pistol to ensure it was live and fully loaded before slipping it back into its holster. Then cranked up power on the battle scared combat armour he always wore underneath his cyber cloak when on duty. He punched open the bridges emergency weapons locker, pulling out the biggest, meanest, plasma rifle available. Keyed its bio-filter to his DNA, checking it was locked and loaded, before turning to the crew.
“Lucy, David co-ordinate recovery of the cargo pods. Make sure they’re fed and watered, but keep the survivors quarantined in the main hanger deck, till we can run security and medical checks. Use Bryson’s Delta team to assist. Bryn co-ordinate damage control and repairs with Alaster. Carol tell Bravo and Charlie teams to regroup in sector six. I’ll meet them there. Then see if you can establish contact with our mystery guests. I’ve got some vermin to exterminate and let’s make it quick people. I’m betting that bastard Scott has transmitted our location to every Anterian, Raider and bounty hunter in the sector.”
He turned to leave the bridge, stopping briefly as he reach door and turned to face the crew again.
“Don’t worry about the others, Bryson will take good care of them, but as soon as we clear this mess up we’re going after them because...” he paused. “...We’re more than just a crew, we’re a family and no one gets left behind. Now seal this door after me and nothing comes in or out till I’ve spaced every last one of those miserable flesh eating Anterian scumbags.”
“Good Hunting.” said David.
Ford nodded silently turned on his heels and with that he was gone leaving them alone on the bridge.