Retribution Read online

  RETRIBUTION

  Book 4 of Warner’s World

  DAVE O’CONNOR

  Version 1.0

  WARP DRIVE PUBLISHING

  Cover –Courtesy of NASA – artist concept of a mini planetary system

  Published by Panther Games Pty Ltd Trading as Warp Drive Publishing

  ABN66 008 609 541

  3 Valli St Chapman ACT 2611, Australia

  Copyright © Dave O’Connor 2016. All rights reserved.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  For Rose – and her unbounded energy.

  Contents

  Part 1 Aftermath

  Chapter 1. Resolute over Assam 1400, 25 May 2513

  Chapter 2. Resolute over Assam 1530, 25 May

  Chapter 3. Resolute over Assam 1800, 25 May

  Chapter 4. Assam 1830, 25 May

  Chapter 5. Resolute over Assam 2040, 25 May

  Chapter 6. Resolute to Polaris 2215, 25 May

  Chapter 7. Resolute to Polaris 0230, 26 May

  Chapter 8. Resolute to Polaris 1230, 26 May

  Chapter 9. Resolute to Polaris 2000, 29 May

  Chapter 10. Resolute over Polaris 1400, 1 June

  Chapter 11. Tumos 1440, 1 June

  Chapter 12. Resolute at Tumos 1730, 1 June

  Chapter 13. Resolute at Tumos 0630, 2 June

  Chapter 14. Resolute at Tumos 0730, 2 June

  Chapter 15. Resolute at Tumos 1400, 2 June

  Chapter 16. Resolute at Tumos 1700, 2 June

  Chapter 17. Resolute at Tumos 1000, 3 June

  Chapter 18. Nova Vista 1400, 3 June

  Chapter 19. Nova Vista 1700, 3 June

  Chapter 20. Nova Vista 1800, 3 June

  Chapter 21. Nova Vista 2100, 3 June

  Chapter 22. Mount Bosan 1400, 4 June

  Chapter 23. Nova Vista 1500, 4 June

  Chapter 24. Terra Fuaga 2100, 4 June

  Part 2 Conflicted

  Chapter 1. Washington DC 2000 5 June

  Chapter 2. Washington DC 0930 6 June

  Chapter 3. Washington DC 1015, 6 June

  Chapter 4. Washington DC 1400, 6 June

  Chapter 5. Nova Vista 1530, 6 June

  Chapter 6. Washington DC 1700, 6 June

  Chapter 7. Sandford 1900, 6 June

  Chapter 8. Nova Vista 2100, 6 June

  Chapter 9. Sandford 2200, 6 June

  Chapter 10. Nova Vista 2300, 6 June

  Chapter 11. Washington DC 0730, 7 June

  Chapter 12. Washington DC 0800, 7 June

  Chapter 13. Nova Vista 0900, 7 June

  Chapter 14. Washington DC 0915, 7 June

  Chapter 15. Nova Vista 2200, 7 June

  Chapter 16. Nova Vista 0800, 8 June

  Chapter 17. Nova Vista 0900, 8 June

  Chapter 18. Outer Polaris 1113, 8 June

  Chapter 19. Tumos 1430, 8 June

  Chapter 20. Nova Vista 0900, 9 June

  Chapter 21. Tumos 1230, 9 June

  Chapter 22. Butros Alia 1300, 9 June

  Part 3 Headlong

  Chapter 1. Outer Polaris 1400, 9 June

  Chapter 2. Nova Vista 0915, 10 June

  Chapter 3. Tumos 1500, 10 June

  Chapter 4. Outer Polaris 1605, 10 June

  Chapter 5. Nova Vista 1810, 10 June

  Chapter 6. Washington DC 2100, 10 June

  Chapter 7. Tumos 0800, 11 June

  Chapter 8. Nova Vista 0845, 11 June

  Chapter 9. Argonaut in Outer Polaris 1400, 11 June

  Chapter 10. Phantom to Beta Phi 1800, 11 June

  Chapter 11. Nova Vista 1900, 11 June

  Chapter 12. Phantom to Beta Phi 1930, 11 June

  Chapter 13. Niku 2130, 11 June

  Chapter 14. Nova Vista 2220, 11 June

  Chapter 15. Outer Polaris 0010, 12 June

  Chapter 16. Phantom to Beta Phi 1410, 12 June

  Chapter 17. Niku 2015, 12 June

  Chapter 18. Niku 1400, 13 June

  Chapter 19. Maryland 2020, 13 June

  Chapter 20. Washington 2130, 13 June

  Chapter 21. Maryland 0400, 14 June

  Chapter 22. Nova Vista 1830, 15 June

  Chapter 23. Nova Vista 0200, 16 June

  Chapter 24. Nova Vista 0800, 16 June

  Part 4 Tensions Rising

  Chapter 1. Nova Vista 1430, 17 June

  Chapter 2. Nova Vista 1620, 17 June

  Chapter 3. Butros Alia 1900, 17 June

  Chapter 4. Tumos 0915, 18 June

  Chapter 5. Nova Vista 1820, 18 June

  Chapter 6. Nova Vista 1230, 19 June

  Chapter 7. Phantom to Polaris 1630, 19 June

  Chapter 8. Phantom to Sibu 1015, 20 June

  Chapter 9. Nova Vista 1315, 20 June

  Chapter 10. Phantom to Polaris 1615, 20 June

  Chapter 11. Nova Vista 1900 20 June

  Chapter 12. Nova Vista 1030, 21 June

  Chapter 13. Nova Vista 1100, 21 June

  Chapter 14. Nova Vista 1330, 21 June

  Chapter 15. Nova Vista 1500, 21 June

  Chapter 16. Tumos 1930, 21 June

  Chapter 17. Nova Vista 0830, 22 June

  Chapter 18. Nova Vista 1000, 22 June

  Chapter 19. IRS Mailon over Chelora 1100, 22 June

  Chapter 20. Resolute over Tumos 1830, 22 June

  Chapter 21. Butros Alia 1900, 22 June

  Chapter 22. Butros Alia 2200, 22 June

  Chapter 23. Resolute over Tumos, 2245 22 June

  Chapter 24. IRS Mailon over Chelora 0010, 23 June

  Chapter 25. Resolute over Tumos 0600, 23 June

  Chapter 26. Nova Vista 1230, 23 June

  Chapter 27. Tumos 1530, 23 June

  Chapter 28. Resolute over Tumos 1700, 23 June

  Chapter 29. Nova Vista 1700, 23 June

  Chapter 30. Nova Vista 0815, 24 June

  Chapter 31. Tumos 1300, 24 June

  Chapter 32. FFS Aukland over Polaris 1420, 24 June

  Chapter 33. Nova Vista 1500, 24 June

  Chapter 34. Nova Vista 1700, 24 June

  Chapter 35. Nova Vista 1800, 24 June

  Chapter 36. Nova Vista 0500, 25 June

  Chapter 37. Nova Vista 0800, 25 June

  Chapter 38. Aukland over Polaris 1015, 25 June

  Chapter 39. Nova Vista 1100, 25 June

  Chapter 40. Outer Polaris 1330, 25 June

  Chapter 41. Aukland over Polaris 1425, 25 June

  Chapter 42. Nova Vista 1630, 25 June

  Chapter 43. IRS Mailon to Polaris 1930, 25 June

  Chapter 44. Aukland over Polaris 2300, 25 June

  Chapter 45. Nova Vista 0000, 26 June

  Chapter 46. IRS Mailon to Polaris 0010, 25 June

  Part 5 Thunderclap

  Chapter 1. Aukland over Polaris 0032, 26 June

  Chapter 2. Nova Vista 0033, 26 June

  Chapter 3. Aukland over Polaris 0035, 26 June

  Chapter 4. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0037, 26 June

  Chapter 5. Aukland over Polaris 0038, 26 June

  Chapter
6. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0040, 26 June

  Chapter 7. Aukland over Polaris 0042, 26 June

  Chapter 8. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0046, 26 June

  Chapter 9. Resolute over Tumos 0047, 26 June

  Chapter 10. Nova Vista 0048, 26 June

  Chapter 11. Tumos 0050, 26 June

  Chapter 12. Butros Alia 0051, 26 June

  Chapter 13. Aukland over Polaris 0052, 26 June

  Chapter 14. Tumos 0053, 26 June

  Chapter 15. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0054, 26 June

  Chapter 16. Resolute over Tumos 0054, 26 June

  Chapter 17. Phantom over Polaris 0057, 26 June

  Chapter 18. Tumos 0058, 26 June

  Chapter 19. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0058, 26 June

  Chapter 20. Resolute over Polaris 0059, 26 June

  Chapter 21. Tumos 0100, 26 June

  Chapter 22. Nova Vista 0100, 26 June

  Chapter 23. Tumos 0101, 26 June

  Chapter 24. Resolute over Polaris 0102, 26 June

  Chapter 25. Tumos 0103, 26 June

  Chapter 26. IRS Mailon over Polaris 0104, 26 June

  Part 6 Payback

  Chapter 1. Nova Vista 0115, 26 June

  Chapter 2. Tumos 0200, 26 June

  Chapter 3. Sierra 271 over Polaris 0210, 26 June

  Chapter 4. Resolute over Polaris 0330, 26 June

  Chapter 5. FFS Mailon over Polaris 0430, 26 June

  Chapter 6. FFS Mailon over Polaris 1930, 26 June

  Chapter 7. FFS Mailon over Polaris 0600, 27 June

  Chapter 8. FFS Mailon over Polaris 1600, 27 June

  Chapter 9. Washington DC 2330, 27 June

  Chapter 10. Resolute to Chelora 0430, 28 June

  Chapter 11. Washington DC 1115, 28 June

  Chapter 12. Washington DC 2230, 28 June

  Chapter 13. Resolute over Chelora 0920, 29 June

  Chapter 14. Resolute to Chelora 7 1030, 29 June

  Chapter 15. Resolute over Chelora 7 1545, 29 June

  Chapter 16. Washington DC 1600, 29 June

  Chapter 17. Resolute over Chelora 2105, 29 June

  Chapter 18. Resolute over Chelora 7 0700, 30 June

  Chapter 19. Washington DC 0830, 30 June

  Chapter 20. Resolute over Chelora 1315, 30 June

  Chapter 21. Washington DC 1615, 30 June

  Chapter 22. Resolute over Chelora 1700, 30 June

  Before You Go

  Acknowledgements

  Book 5 of Warner’s World

  Warnerpedia

  Part 1 Penetration

  Chapter 1. Beijing, Earth 1910, 5 July 2513

  Chapter 2. Nova Vista, Polaris 1800, 5 July

  Chapter 3. Nova Vista 2240, 5 July

  Chapter 4. Nova Vista 1115, 7 July

  Chapter 5. Konkorda to Qwantum 1300, 23 July

  Chapter 6. Konkorda Pod 2 in Qwantum, 2000, 25 July

  Chapter 7. Resolute over Chelora 2300, 1 August

  Chapter 8. Phantom to Sturam 0200, 2 August

  Part 1

  Aftermath

  When the firing stops and the screams subside

  Fear once more retreats inside

  Frazzled nerves recover and tired minds assess

  The outcome of the battle and whether it was success

  But either way comrades have died or suffered

  Lives lost and aspirations smothered

  Where to from here

  Do you retreat from fear

  Or regird your loins and sally forth

  Striving to the next objective with all your worth

  Chapter 1. Resolute over Assam 1400, 25 May 2513

  Captain (Capt) Dave Warner, commander of the Federation Fleet Ship (FFS) Resolute, sat in his chair in the command centre. He rested his chin in his right hand and leaned his torso and head to the right pondering his next move. It had been a big day by any standards.

  In conjunction with the two frigates FFS Sydney and Washington, they had defeated the remains of the Rogan 10th Fleet. But he had to resort to using nukes to destroy their huge invasion fleet, something which never sat easy with him. The Resolute had been hit by a series of EMP waves from the nuclear explosions. These had fried impulse engines three and four. Subsequent overheating caused a fire which ripped through the aft section of E deck. The fire KO’d several life support systems and the ship’s most important capability, its ability to cloak and remain invisible to all enemy non-visual detection. It had been this capability which had allowed his small force to defeat the numerically superior enemy fleet.

  The fire was now out and he had just received word from his engineering officer, 2nd Lt Gunter Rapperberg, that they had brought back on line the life support systems. At least that would enable him to maintain station over Beta Phi for another five days when the much larger Ark Royal group would arrive.

  While all this had been mulling over in his mind his eyes stared at the main holo display which occupied a large circular area in the centre of the bigger circle which made up the command centre.

  Around the holo display was a walkway in which the watch officer could roam. Lieutenant Commander (LCmd) Aubrey Bellard, the ships Operations Officer had the watch. She stood in the walkway, hands on hips and scanning the rest of the command staff. She turned her head and her blond ponytail swished to the right as she caught sight of Dave’s demeanour. She knew he was about to say something.

  Dave was focussed on the holo’s representation of the radiation cloud that was expanding as he watched. He used the control on the station in front of him to get a data readout on the radiation cloud. It would enter the lower atmosphere over Beta Phi in the next two hours.

  “Jasmin, hail me General (Gen) Kirkland at Alliance HQ in Assam” he ordered.

  “Of course Sir” replied Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Jasmin Morales, the deputy communications officer.

  Gen Harry Kirkland was an Alliance officer. He was senior in rank to Dave but he was not his superior per se. Dave’s orders came from Admiral Yomoto head of Federation Fleet Special Operations on Polaris. Dave was to cooperate and assist the Alliance forces in the defence of Beta Phi, but he had discretionary power to decide in the best interests of the Federation.

  “Control says he must be still in the shelter” advised Jasmin “they’ll keep trying.”

  Dave nodded. He took a deep breath in and sank back into his chair. The sight of the radiation cloud on the holo display brought back memories. ‘Was it only fifteen months ago?’ he asked himself. He was thinking about how he had lost his first wife Amy and his two kids to the first nuke attack of the civil war between the Alliance and the Federation. ‘What a waste.’ It had all been part of a rogan subterfuge to get the humans to fight amongst themselves. ‘And it had worked’. Well up until his best friend LCmd Art Simons had found out otherwise.

  He recalled the attempts to link up with Art, first on Josker and then on Alpha Phi, how they had been betrayed and ambushed by the Alliance. He and Art had played a big part in bringing about the rapprochement between the Alliance and the Federation so they could unite against the common foe. That foe had then been the sleth but they had been blackmailed by another alien race the rogan.

  Dave had mixed emotions as he recalled how they had discovered that fact. It had come at the cost of his then XO, LCmd Ella Appel, and that had led to his fall from grace. ‘But grace did shine upon me’ he thought as he recalled the battles over Fulmar to protect the sleth from rogan retribution and their desire to capture the rogan resistance leader Evie Plentun.

  ‘Mmm...’ thought Dave and he smiled as he recalled how throughout all this he had fallen in love with his second wife Cmdr Rihan Kabel. She was now his XO and down on the surface of Beta Phi having led the assault on the spaceport at Assam.

  ‘So much danger, so much risk, so much loss.’ Dave’s facial expression changed to anger as he thought about how much of this had been brought about by the duplicity of that bastard Kyle Bane. He had sided with the rogan and it had been his dirty t
ricks which had brought about the insurrection in Niku and Assam. Bringing Bane down had nearly cost the life of his best friend. Art now lay in a recovery theatre down in one of Assam’s hospitals. Dave felt real bitterness towards Bane. ‘But I must watch that’ he counselled himself.

  “He’s online now Sir” announced Jasmin.

  “General, it’s Capt Warner here” hailed Dave.

  “Captain it’s good to hear from you” said Gen Harry Kirkland, commander Alliance Army HQ, Assam. He was still in the operational bunker, two floors underground in the western suburbs of Assam, from where he had been controlling operations to defeat the rogan expeditionary force and put down the insurrection that had temporarily wrested control of Assam and Niku the two biggest cities on Beta Phi. “I’ve been meaning to call you but things have been particularly busy down here.”

  “Understood Sir. I’m afraid I’m going to be adding to your task list.”

  “Yes?” said a wary Kirkland.

  “A good portion of the fallout from the nukes is headed your way, I’m afraid. It should start entering the lower atmosphere in two hours’ time. You had better take precautionary measures and limit exposure for the next week or so.”

  “Blast… I was hoping it would miss us. But better this problem than having to deal with a division of rogan warriors” said Kirkland.

  “I’m sorry Sir” said Dave. “There was no other way.”

  Kirkland sensed the anguish in Dave’s voice. “You did the right thing Captain. We are in debt to you and to your forces down here. By the way, you know that Simons and Williams are going to pull through, don’t you.”

  “Yes Sir I heard.”

  “They did a fine job bringing down that traitor, Bane. If they were under my command Captain I would be recommending them for an award.”

  “Yes Sir I’ll see to it. One other thing right now Sir. As you know we have captured the rogan capital ship Kunter. Admiral Soola is dead but his deputy, a Cmdr Draag, had offered to assist a peace overture.”

  “Does he indeed” said Kirkland. “Why would we do that now?”

  “That’s a valid question Sir, but I am duty bound to hear him out. In any event, nothing will be binding. All we can do now is talk and refer any matters to our respective governments.”

  “I suppose” said Kirkland begrudgingly.