Audacity (Warner's World Book 5) Read online

  AUDACITY

  Book 5 of Warner’s World

  DAVE O’CONNOR

  Version 1.0

  WARP DRIVE PUBLISHING

  Cover –Courtesy of NASA - earth-seen-from-international-space

  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 Gillian – and her dogged determination.

  Contents

  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

  Chapter 9. Kiev over Chelora 1720, 2 August

  Chapter 10. Resolute over Chelora 1830, 2 August

  Chapter 11. Resolute over Chelora 0145, 2 August

  Chapter 12. Maelstrom over Chelora 0930, 3 August

  Chapter 13. Kiev over Chelora 1315, 3 August

  Chapter 14. Resolute over Chelora 0200 4 August

  Chapter 15. Slidwon, Istridium 0740, 4 August

  Chapter 16. Resolute over Chelora 0920, 4 August

  Chapter 17. Slidwon, Istridium 1600, 4 August

  Chapter 18. Resolute over Chelora 1640, 4 August

  Chapter 19. Slidwon, Istridium 1030, 5 August

  Chapter 20. Dregun shuttle over Cheklin 2012, 5 August

  Chapter 21. Lewista, Cheklin 0845, 6 August

  Chapter 22. Dorntum, Cheklin 1300, 6 August

  Chapter 23. Phantom in Qwantum 1500, 6 August

  Chapter 24. Raihma, Istridium 1150, 7 August

  Chapter 25. Washington DC, Earth 2105, 7 August

  Chapter 26. Slidwon, Istridium 2220, 7 August

  Chapter 27. Resolute to Qwantum 1515, 8 August

  Chapter 28. Umbrol Shuttle over Cheklin 1000, 10 August

  Chapter 29. Phantom to Sturam 1400, 10 August

  Chapter 30. Beijing, Earth 1500, 10 August

  Chapter 31. Phantom to Sturam 1600, 10 August

  Chapter 32. Phantom to Sturam 0900, 11 August

  Chapter 33. Resolute to Qwantum 1600, 11 August

  Chapter 34. Maelstrom over Chelora 1630, 11 August

  Chapter 35. Kiev over Chelora 1700, 11 August.

  Chapter 36. Kiev over Chelora 0930, 12 August

  Chapter 37. Dyritka 1340, 12 August

  Chapter 38. Resolute to Qwantum 1730, 12 August

  Part 2 Into the Unknown

  Chapter 1. Resolute to Qwantum 0520, 13 August

  Chapter 2. Konkorda Pod 2 in Qwantum 1100, 13 August

  Chapter 3. Resolute in Qwantum 1120, 13 August

  Chapter 4. Phantom in warp to Sturam 1145, 13 August

  Chapter 5. Resolute in Qwantum 1255, 13 August

  Chapter 6. Phantom in Sturam 1400, 13 August

  Chapter 7. Resolute in Qwantum 1410, 13 August

  Chapter 8. Resolute in Qwantum 1800, 13 August

  Chapter 9. Phantom in Sturam 2000, 13 August

  Chapter 10. Resolute in Qwantum 2230, 13 August

  Chapter 11. Slidwon, Istridium 2330, 13 August

  Chapter 12. Whiskey 7 to Lewista 0200, 14 August

  Chapter 13. Dyritka 0530, 14 August

  Chapter 14. Lewista 0600, 14 August

  Chapter 15. Resolute in Qwantum 0640, 14 August

  Chapter 16. Lewista 0700, 14 August

  Chapter 17. Resolute in Qwantum 0730, 14 August

  Chapter 18. Phantom over Cheklin 0800, 14 August

  Chapter 19. Resolute in Qwantum 0820, 14 August

  Chapter 20. Slidwon 0905, 14 August

  Chapter 21. Lewista 1100, 14 August

  Part 3 With Sword Held High

  Chapter 1. Resolute to Q2 1150, 14 August

  Chapter 2. Resolute over Q2, 1220, 14 August

  Chapter 3. Resolute in Qwantum 1630, 14 August

  Chapter 4. Resolute to Q2 1715, 14 August

  Chapter 5. Lewista 1730, 14 August

  Chapter 6. Resolute to Q2 1830, 14 August

  Chapter 7. Lewista 1900, 14 August

  Chapter 8. Resolute over Q2, 2050, 14 August

  Chapter 9. Lewista 2115, 14 August

  Chapter 10. Whiskey 1 over Q2, 2155, 14 August

  Chapter 11. Portuscu Headland 2210, 14 August

  Chapter 12. Rollinium 2330, 14 August

  Chapter 13. Resolute over Q2, 2350, 14 August

  Chapter 14. Rollinium 0040, 15 August

  Chapter 15. Lewista 0530, 15 August

  Chapter 16. Rollinium 0610, 15 August

  Chapter 17. Lewista 0715, 15 August

  Chapter 18. Rollinium 0730, 15 August

  Chapter 19. Resolute over Q2 0950, 15 August

  Chapter 20. Lewista 1015, 15 August

  Chapter 21. Rollinium 1055, 15 August

  Chapter 22. Phantom over Checklin 1200, 15 August

  Chapter 23. Lewista 1305, 15 August

  Chapter 24. Rollinium 1330, 15 August

  Chapter 25. Dyritka 1400, 15 August

  Chapter 26. Lewista 1500, 15 August

  Chapter 27. Lewista 1530, 15 August

  Chapter 28. Lewista 1600, 15 August

  Chapter 29. Resolute over Q2 1805, 15 August

  Chapter 30. Phantom over Cheklin 1920, 15 August

  Chapter 31. Lewista 2000, 15 August

  Chapter 32. Alpha 1, Cheklin 2315, 15 August

  Chapter 33. Phantom to Chelora 0700, 16 August

  Chapter 34. Rollinium 1100, 16 August

  Chapter 35. Resolute to Chelora 1500, 16 August

  Chapter 36. Washington DC 1100, 12 August

  Part 4 Decisions, Decisions

  Chapter 1. Lewista 0930, 17 August

  Chapter 2. Spectre to Casaverie 1645, 17 August

  Chapter 3. Raptor to Slintos 1940, 17 August

  Chapter 4. Raihma, Istridium 1130, 18August

  Chapter 5. Lewista 1830, 18 August

  Chapter 6. Kiev over Chelora 1130, 19 August

  Chapter 7. Slidwon 0500, 20 August

  Chapter 8. Slidwon 1600, 20 August

  Chapter 9. Lewista 1845, 20 August

  Chapter 10. Dyritka 0730, 21August

  Chapter 11. Slidwon 0830, 21 August

  Chapter 12. Kiev over Chelora 0910, 21 August

  Chapter 13. Rowisus 1000, 21 August

  Chapter 14. Slidwon 0920, 22 August

  Chapter 15. Chikita, Slemros 1100, 22 August

  Chapter 16. Rowisus 2200, 22 August

  Chapter 17. Chikita 2230, 22 August

  Chap
ter 18. Rollinium 0900, 23 August

  Chapter 19. Resolute to Chelora 0930, 23 August

  Chapter 20. Muntikis 1100, 23 August

  Chapter 21. Slidwon 1200, 23 August

  Chapter 22. Chikita 1230, 23 August

  Chapter 23. Spectre in Casaverie, 1700, 23 August

  Chapter 24. Raptor in Slintos 1730, 23 August

  Chapter 25. Resolute over Chelora 1950, 23 August

  Chapter 26. Dyritka 0740, 24 August

  Chapter 27. Resolute over Chelora 0805, 24 August

  Chapter 28. Resolute over Chelora 1045, 24 August

  Chapter 29. Rollinium 1100, 24 August

  Chapter 30. Slidwon 1200, 24 August

  Chapter 31. Rollinium 1415, 24 August

  Chapter 32. Dyritka 1500, 24 August

  Chapter 33. Kiev over Chelora 1730, 24 August

  Chapter 34. Aspliar to Nilsun2 1745, 24 August

  Chapter 35. Slidwon 2000, 24 August

  Chapter 36. Resolute over Chelora 0730, 25 August

  Chapter 37. Aspliar to Nilsun2 0745, 25 August

  Chapter 38. Neeblo 0930, 25 August

  Chapter 39. Washington 1040, 26 August

  Chapter 40. Resolute over Chelora 1430, 26 August

  Chapter 41. Kiev over Chelora 1700, 26 August

  Chapter 42. Resolute over Chelora 1000, 27 August

  Chapter 43. Resolute over Chelora 0750, 28 August

  Chapter 44. Resolute over Chelora 1300, 28 August

  Chapter 45. Phantom to Chelora 2300, 28 August

  Chapter 46. Aspliar to Nilsun2 0730, 29 August

  Chapter 47. Spectre over Q2 2030, 29 August

  Chapter 48. Raptor over Q2 2210, 29 August

  Chapter 49. Spectre over Q2, 2330, 29 August

  Chapter 50. Raptor over Q2, 2345, 29 August

  Chapter 51. Spectre over Q2, 0715, 30 August

  Chapter 52. Neeblo 1630, 30 August

  Chapter 53. Raihma 2300, 30 August

  Part 5 Where Angels Fear to Tread

  Chapter 1. Lewista 1100, 31 August

  Chapter 2. Lewista 2200, 31 August

  Chapter 3. Muntikis 2340, 31 August

  Chapter 4. Muntikis 1400, 1 September

  Chapter 5. Phantom over Q2 1900, 1 September

  Chapter 6. Raptor over Q2 1700, 2 September

  Chapter 7. Phantom over Q2 1800, 2 September

  Chapter 8. Qoniz, Cheklin 2205, 2 September

  Chapter 9. IRS Guglin to Q2 1100 3 September

  Chapter 10. Resolute to Q2, 0710 4 September

  Chapter 11. Spectre over Q2 1600, 4 September

  Chapter 12. Rollinium 1610, 4 September

  Chapter 13. IRS Guglin over Q2, 1620, 4 September

  Chapter 14. Spectre over Q2, 1800, 4 September

  Chapter 15. Rollininium 0245, 5 September

  Chapter 16. Spectre over Q2 0345, 5 September

  Chapter 17. Spectre over Q2 0700, 5 September

  Chapter 18. Rollinium 0800, 5 September

  Chapter 19. Resolute over Q2 0200, 6 September

  Chapter 20. Maelstrom over Q2 0240, 6 September

  Chapter 21. Raptor in Qwantum 0310, 6 September

  Chapter 22. Guglin in Qwantum 0315, 6 September

  Chapter 23. Spectre in Qwantum 0340, 6 September

  Chapter 24. Resolute in Qwantum 0350, 6 September

  Chapter 25. Maelstrom in Qwantum 0400, 6 September

  Chapter 26. Guglin in Qwantum 0410, 6 September

  Chapter 27. Maelstrom in Qwantum 0425, 6 September

  Chapter 28. Rollinium 1800, 6 September

  Chapter 29. Resolute 2200, 6 September

  Before You Go

  Acknowledgements

  Book 6 of Warner’s World

  Warnerpedia

  Part 1 Call to Arms

  Chapter 1. Resolute over Q2, 2340, 6 September 2513

  Chapter 2. Kiev in warp to Q2 1200, 6 September

  Chapter 3. Cornacopia to Polaris 1345, 6 September

  Chapter 4. Kiev to Q2 1500, 6 September

  Chapter 5. Cornucopia to Polaris 0400, 7 September

  Chapter 6. Resolute over Q2 0610, 7 September

  Chapter 7. Kiev to Q2 2100, 7 September

  Chapter 8. Phantom over Cheklin 0400, 8 September

  Chapter 9. LZ Alpha Cheklin 0510, 8 September

  Chapter 10. Neeblo 0600, 8 September

  Chapter 11. Cornucopia to Polaris 0730, 8 September

  Chapter 12. Kiev to Q2 0800, 8 September

  Chapter 13. Slidwon, Istridium 0830, 8 September

  Part 1

  Penetration

  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 was it success

  But either way comrades have suffered

  Lives lost and aspirations smothered

  Where to from here

  Do you retreat from fear?

  Or gird your loins and sally forth

  Striving on for all your worth

  Chapter 1. Beijing, Earth 1910, 5 July 2513

  A weary Harry Chen dropped his carry-on next to the visitor’s chair in his study. The flight had been delayed leaving Washington. These High Council meetings were taking a toll on his stamina. ‘Home should be a refuge’ he said to himself.

  On cue he heard the tone he dreaded. “You’re late again” called out his wife Amelia Hubbard. “We’ve already started” she added with more than a hint of disapproval.

  Harry blew out some air, girded his loins and somehow found the energy required to walk down the hallway to the dining room. He brushed across his thinning hair endeavouring to hide the growing expanse of bare skull. It was another of life’s disappointments. Why his parents opted not to cull that gene he never knew. ‘Hum’ he thought ‘it’s the least of my worries.’

  As he approached the entrance to the dining room, he took in a deep breath. The third most powerful person in the human federation entered the dining room of his own house feeling inadequate.

  The face that looked up from her plate was no longer the lure it had once been thirty years ago. It was a long face whose cheeks had hollowed out despite the best efforts of earth’s finest cosmetic surgeons. Her dark brown eyes rolled up to meet Harry’s. He felt them interrogating his form. He knew they would not fail to realise that he was weary but he also knew that there would be no acknowledgement let alone a soothing word. She gave him a slight nod before inserting another mouthful of filet steak into her mouth with the ornate silver fork.

  Harry sat down in the chair on Amelia’s left. The chair opposite, on Amelia’s right, was occupied by their son, Commander Charles Chen. His son was in the middle of chewing his own mouthful. There wasn’t much left on his plate. Charles made an attempt to smile but opted to nod instead.

  Harry removed the lid from his plate and took in the aroma of the steak diane. It was to his liking. He reached forward and took hold of the bottle. He inspected the label and nodded in appreciation. The Penfold Grange was the best cabernet sauvignon on the planet and his cellar was well stocked with them. He poured a glass and brought it to his nose and inhaled the satisfying aroma.

  Amelia knew he loved his wine. She had witnessed this ritual of his all too often. She appreciated the benefits that came with being married to the Federation Treasurer but as she had done more and more of late she robbed him of his pleasure by interrupting him just as he was about to take a sip. “So?” she demanded.

  Harry shook his head slightly. He was onto her little games. This was becoming annoying. It was a form of harassment. If Charles had not been here he would have said something. For now, he exercised all the restraint he was famous for. He slowly lowered the glass to the table. His prize would wait. He took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. He glanced across to Charles.

  “It’s done. You have your war. You report to the spaceport tomorrow morn
ing 0800 sharp.” Harry turned to Amelia. “I hope you are satisfied?” he said with more than a trace of sarcasm.

  “The Resolute?” asked Amelia ignoring Harry’s tone. Her focus was only on the outcome. She had long since given up caring about how Harry felt.

  Harry nodded but then decided to add “this cost us big time.” He turned to Charles “Don’t screw this up.” With great determination Harry took a good swallow of the precious red liquid. He forwent the niceties, keen for the after effects that only alcohol provided these days.

  The rest of the meal was had in silence. Amelia excused herself at the earliest opportunity. A minute later Charles followed suit leaving his father to savour his food and wine in peace.

  Charles made his way to his bedroom and began packing his gear. Most of it was done already, save for his Fleet whites that were now folded neatly into the suit compartment of his case. There was no expression on his face, no indication of how he felt.

  The impassive demeanour was still there when Amelia entered a minute later. Amelia noted it just as she had done so many times before. There was something missing, emotionally, in her Charles. She put this down to Harry just like everything disappointing in her life was down to Harry.

  She put her hand on Charles as he was closing the case shut. Charles turned and gave her a half smile. That was the best she would get from him. But her payoff would not be in terms of an emotional response. No, her payoff would be in terms of status.

  Ever since she had graduated from Oxford she had only one goal and that was to attain the highest office in the Federation. Harry’s own ambition had torpedoed hers. She had reluctantly agreed to back his political career instead of her own when it looked like he would have the best chance of going all the way. Oh what a mistake that had been. Not only had Harry failed to deliver but he had seemingly, willingly accepted his fate as the loyal lieutenant – fool! It was now down to Charles.

  “You know your father’s right about not screwing this up” she said in an even measured voice.

  Charles put the suitcase down onto the floor and then looked back at his mother. “I got that. You don’t need to give me the lecture. I know what I have to do. Don’t worry. I will return the hero and claim my birth right.” He paused and waited for the response from his mother. She gave him the smile he knew would come. He then added “but I won’t be doing this for you mother. I will be doing it for me.”