“Huh. Some prize. I can’t get in.”
“That was a brave thing you did, going in with the Protectors to get it.”
“I went in with soldiers. The Protectors stayed outside.”
“No, you went in with Protectors. They’re all Protectors, Ma’am.”
“No wonder they were so good. Being brave isn’t part of my job description, but getting the computer was far easier than being a spy for a year and a half. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to be free of that. I wish we could have brought some of my people with us.”
“Actually, it’s better that they stay in place. It will just be for a little while, but whoever goes back there to ferret out the Chessori will need some help from people on the ground. I suspect you’ll be asked for the names when we get some spare time.”
He crossed the room and joined her behind her desk. “That’s one ugly screen,” he said, blinking his eyes as he tried to focus.
“It’s a terrible screen, and it’s given me a headache.”
“Have you tried covering it with a transparent sheet of something that will change the color? You might get something that’s less harsh.”
She sat back in her chair and turned to face him, a weary smile on her face. “That’s a great idea. Why didn’t I think of it? I’m Akurea Skvechavka’a.”
“I know. Pleased to meet you. You have a password problem, huh?”
“I do. I’ve tried everything I can think of. I’m down to random characters now, and it’s going to be pure luck.”
“Have you asked for help?”
“From whom? No one else here knows the Chessori language.”
“Well, not me, that’s for sure. How about another computer? George is pretty talented.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief that she could have missed something so obvious. Impulsively, she stood up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Tom.” Then she stepped back, suddenly embarrassed. “Sorry. I don’t recognize your rank. Have I blundered?”
“Definitely not. We’re all on a first name basis here, the few of us that have more than one name. I’m a captain.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re a captain and a pilot, but our captain is a commander. You outrank him. How does that work?”
“It works very well. We only have one captain, and that’s Stven. He’s my boss.”
“This is a very strange ship, sir.”
“It’s Tom, and no, it’s not so strange at all. It just takes a little explaining. You haven’t seen the half of it yet, but I’m sure you will before long.” He looked at the computer. “You might want to secure that thing. We’ll be engaging some Chessori in a little while.”
She shuddered. “Who flies the ship? George?”
“Hardly. He’s smart, but he can’t shoot back. Like you said, some things about us seem strange on the surface, and I hope it stays that way from the Chessori perspective. I’m off to do battle. You might want to strap yourself into something that’s soft. Do you have an objection to being stunned?”
“Stunned!”
“Wouldn’t you rather not be awake for it?” he asked softly.
Her right eye ticked, and she shuddered again. “I would,” she said in a soft voice.
“If it comes to that, I’ll see what I can do. Nice to have met you, Akurea.”
She just stared at him as he left. Too many things around here just didn’t make sense. “George,” she said softly, “what’s going on here?”
“I’m sorry, Akurea. You’ll have to ask Captain Stven or one of the Knights. Tell me about this password problem. Are you going to teach me a new language?”
“I don’t think I have any choice…”
The first group of oncoming Chessori neared, and Stven and M’Sada left the net. O’Brien passed the word that gunners were to hold fire unless they felt they had a sure shot. This particular batch of Chessori would flash by at high speed, and it would be over in a heartbeat.
Just before merging, the scree sounded, and he started taking evasive action, demanding the maximum performance from George.
His shields took a few hits, but they were glancing shots and there was no damage. As far as he was concerned, the ships that had flashed by were now out of the picture. They would come about and attempt to attack from the rear, but he wasn’t going to turn around under any circumstances.
The scree continued as he changed course. The twelve Chessori in front of him were now off to his right side. To his surprise, they spread out into an umbrella pattern and just held there. Unfortunately, they were forcing him away from his jump point. They could easily stay there for hours, and the scree continued strongly. These guys really did seem to count on the scree to disable opponents.
His thoughts went to Krys, and he knew he had to end this. He moved in closer, but the Chessori just moved back. They were just inside the maximum range of his guns.
This was not the time to hold back. Resolve’s cannons opened up on four Chessori, each targeted by two powerful guns, and their shields quickly lit up. The Chessori returned fire, but they were far out of range for their own guns. One Chessori disintegrated, and the others pulled back and headed away, possibly damaged.
Washburn approached him on the net and put a virtual arm around his shoulder. Leaning close, he said softly, “Remember the vision, Tom?”
O’Brien had not forgotten. Krys had uttered one word: “e ncircle.”
He considered the implications. All of his shields were, at present, fully charged, and backups were ready to come on line. If the eight Chessori decided to move in closer from the side, they would eat away at those shields, and though a few Chessori would fall to his guns, there was a high likelihood that someone would get through a shield eventually. Worse, a long delay would not only make things worse for Krys, it would allow Chessori reinforcements to close with him.
He made a decision. “It’s a terrible risk, but Krys is suffering. We’re going to attack. Let your guys know.”
Washburn’s face lit up, his brilliant white teeth and large eyes shining. “We’re ready, sir. Go for it.”
O’Brien turned Resolve hard into the line of Chessori, his gunners opening up the moment he turned. The move trashed the Chessori strategy. They engulfed Resolve, seemingly out of defense rather than attack, and Washburn’s gunners were effective. Resolve’s shields glowed from hits, and two failed, but George brought backups on line instantly as the guns continued a crazed pounding. Three Chessori were vaporized, two more were damaged and fled, and when multiple guns from Resolve came to bear on the remaining three, one exploded and the last two fled.
The Chessori that had flashed past them earlier had closed some of the distance while Resolve maneuvered against the main attack force, and being slightly faster, they were slowly closing in. The crew had a few minutes to breathe again, and Resolve was again headed in the right direction, but the scree still buzzed in everyone’s ears. O’Brien suspected that the scree from these military ships was stronger than what they had encountered from traders.
He and Washburn discussed it. They were nowhere near their jump point, and that jump point was, itself, only marginally safe. Resolve couldn’t outrun the pursuers, but Krys could not be subject to more hours of the scree.
“Are you ready to do it again?” O’Brien asked Washburn.
“Not really. They’ll be ready and waiting this time.”
“My feeling exactly. We’re going to jump earlier than planned, my friend, for Krys’ sake.”
O’Brien gave George the command to jump. His screens blanked, and the scree stopped instantly. The jump lasted only moments, but when Resolve emerged, O’Brien sucked in a breath as a momentary glimpse of a planet close abeam filled his view. Before he had time to react, George executed a number of micro jumps.
“Shut off the beacon,” he yelled to George.
“Already done, Tom.”
The micro jumps continued without any input from him. George was at his finest this day.