Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Read online

  “There are basically two options. The first is an overt broadcast on all comms channels using Lt Hoyle, our linguistic expert who has been learning their language from the prisoners on board.” Chase looked over at a very nervous subaltern.

  “The second option” continued Chase “is to covertly reconnoitre the system using our probes, identify the location where Lt Chalker is being held, attempt a rescue mission and then make contact and bargain from a position of strength.”

  “Thanks Chase. I will take it from here” said Warner. “As I see it, the second option is predicated on us arriving undetected. I have serious doubts as to whether this is possible. The enemy are no fools and they will most likely have sensors deployed in all the obvious locations.”

  “Yes Sir that’s correct” spoke Ella “but we could simply launch our probes and warp out to Doban. Once we have the intel we need, we warp back in and rescue Chalker.”

  “But Doban is three days away” interjected LCmd Art Simons, Lt Sue Chalker’s fiancé and Dave Warner’s best friend. “It will mean another week in their custody for Sue. Not to mention that there is real risks to her safety and everyone else on this mission with a hostile rescue.”

  “I’m not in favour of just announcing to the enemy that we are here waiting for them to attack us” said 2nd Lt Aubrey Bellard, the Hermes Battle Systems officer. “We won’t last long up against their capital ships.”

  Aubrey tilted her head to the right and her dark blond ponytail swished at the back of her head. She was an English rose possessed of a quick mind and was always prepared to argue her case.

  “Sir I’m with Aubrey on this” chimed in 2nd Lt Ivan Kiralenko, the Hermes Communications and Intel officer. Ivan was very tall, strong and fit. Some would say he was a gentle giant but that wasn’t really true. He did have a soft manner but he was a real warrior. Alas his heart was wounded. His beloved Sherri had died right beside him in the tunnels on Klaster only weeks earlier.

  “What’s more” continued Ivan “I have doubts about our ability to communicate effectively with the enemy. Dan’s only had a few weeks trying to learn their language and we can’t trust one of their prisoners to parley for us.”

  “Alright everyone” said Warner raising his voice. Turning to Pious he asked “What’s your view on this Sir?”

  Pious glanced across to Packer. She nodded back to him. They had obviously discussed a common approach. “Counsellor Packer and I acknowledge that while there are military risks and technical difficulties with the open declaration option it is on balance the most likely to succeed in the long run.”

  He paused to look around at the faces and then continued “We will be seen to be open and up front. It will add weight to the credibility of our offer for peace. We think it the right thing to do. Besides it doesn’t preclude us mounting a rescue bid if they do reject our overture.”

  For Dave that settled it. He looked around the room. Art was pleased. Ella shrugged her shoulders slightly as if to say ‘Oh well’. Ivan was still shaking his head. Aubrey wasn’t happy. Chase wasn’t indicating one way or the other. He would follow Warner’s lead.

  “Right” said Warner “that settles it. Option one it will be.” Turning to Pious, he said “Sir, with your permission, I think we can bring this conference to a close.” Pious nodded and Warner continued “Ella, Ivan and Dan can you please remain. Thanks everyone.”

  Dan Hoyle still looked anxious. He was an Alliance officer, placed under command from the Wasp group to provide linguistic expertise. He was not a strong physical specimen but he was a deep thinker. The question that bothered him the most though was whether he was up to the task.

  Once the others had departed, Warner turned to Dan. “By the look on your face I’d say you have some reservations about making contact.”

  “Not so much the making contact, Sir” responded Dan. “But I have real doubts about how we can conduct negotiations. I have only scratched the surface so far with their language. I really need more time.”

  “Time is one thing in short supply. We don’t know what shape Lt Chalker is in. She could need medical help right now” said Warner. “We’ll just have to put our best effort forward and leave the rest to grace.”

  “Sir?” queried Dan.

  “Lady luck” came back Warner with a smile.

  “Oh right” said Dan, not terribly reassured by that. Ivan, who knew Warner better, just smiled.

  “If push comes to shove we’ll have to rely on one of the prisoners communicating for us” said Warner. “Choose the one you think will be best able to understand you and have him available in the command centre when we come out of warp.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea Sir” said Ella “at least not while we go through our initial procedures. It will give too much away.”

  “OK good point” responded Warner. “Ella, have the prisoner secured nearby with a guard and bring them forward on my command.”

  “Will do Sir.”

  “Ivan, I want you to be ready to broadcast on all channels as soon as we come out of warp. Use the standard No Threat signal. They probably won’t recognise it but it’s as good as any to start with. If we get a response, Dan you will attempt to convey that we come in peace and want to talk terms. Use the dot points we worked out with Pious and Packer - ie cease fire, prisoner exchange, talks. Keep it simple and short.”

  “Believe me Sir” said Dan “it will be simple because that’s all I can do with their language for now.”

  “Good. Do you have any questions?” asked Warner.

  “What if their response is negative” asked Dan.

  “Just indicate that and we will launch probes and warp out. Ella, make sure you brief the pilot to that effect” directed Warner.

  “Got it Sir” said Ella.

  “One other thing Ivan” said Warner “make sure you double check our cyber defences before we warp in.”

  “For sure Sir” replied Ivan. “It will be as tight as a drum.”

  “Any more questions?” asked Warner. The shaking heads and silence said there were none. So Warner dismissed them.

  Chapter 3. Hermes 0700, 22 June

  Warner sat down for his morning meditation. He adopted his usual cross legged sitting posture, ensuring his back was upright. He draped across his meditation shawl, took a deep breath in and exhaled long, shaking his head from side to side, rolling his shoulders and then let his body settle. He closed his eyes and offered up his time in meditation to his Guru. With the words of his Guru’s mantra repeated silently in time with his breath he soon found his mind clearing of thoughts.

  Warner found that it was always easier to meditate first thing in the morning when the mind is transitioning from the dream state and is yet to get established in the fully awake state. In fact he was recalling the dream he woke up from. It had been a powerful fear dream where he was defenceless and could see the enemy charging at him with a blade. He had had this one before and he always woke up just before the blade was about to impact.

  He saw it replayed but this time in meditation it was not from the first person perspective but from the witness perspective. He saw the enemy’s face resolved and determined to perform its duty. He also saw his own face but this time it was not contorted in fear but serene, accepting the fate that was about to befall.

  But then at that moment a thought arose ‘Would I face my death in such a manner? Could I be that detached?’ And with that doubt came anxiety. He could feel it rising within and realised that the thought had recaptured his mind’s focus. So he took another deep breath in, repeating the mantra and exhaling long. He visualised the doubting thought and the consequent fear as a cloud and he blew it across the sky in his mind’s eye.

  ‘Ah, that’s better’ thought Warner and he let the mantra ride the breath’s energy like a wave. With the wave came the inner dark void and then the hint of a twinkling blue light. ‘Yes that is what I am after’ thought Warner and in that instance he was lost to the void. I
t was as though his entire world had first collapsed to an infinitely small dark space and then exploded into an infinitely large space full of sparkling blue light. He felt completely at peace.

  The blue light kept morphing into different shapes. He smiled as he made out the shape of his beloved Rihan. How he loved that woman. She was now getting fatter by the day with their baby growing inside her. He was overcome with a feeling of love and benevolence. It was wonderful.

  After a while he brought himself out of meditation refreshed and fortified. To his Guru he offered up all that he would think, do and say this day. It was in her service and for the fulfilment of her mission and that mission was to see this universe filled with beings that realised everything and every being within the universe was divine, including the enemy in his dreams and the enemy he was about to encounter when they came out of warp in a few hours’ time.

  Chapter 4. Hermes 0800, 22 June

  “Good morning Sir!” called out Ivan as Warner entered the officers’ mess. The last word was muffled as Ivan tried to swallow what was in his mouth.

  Dave smiled. “You’d better take care Ivan. I don’t want to lose my comms officer to a piece of toast.” By the time Ivan finished swallowing Dave was filling his plate from the buffet. He sat down next to Ivan and opposite Ella and Aubrey. Turning to Ella he asked “Are we good to go?”

  “Yes but we’ll be doing our pre warp out check in half an hour just to make sure” replied Ella. “Aubrey and I went through the automated battle systems last night. We’ve plotted the deployment of the drones and the jump to Doban. If things go pear shape all you need do is give us the word and Aubrey will activate the automated systems.”

  “Sounds good but let’s hope we don’t need to” responded Warner. “Anyone seen Dan?”

  Ivan chimed in “I saw him heading to the brig as I came in. He’s a worried soul.”

  Warner nodded and after a moment’s pause of reflection he said “A lot is riding on his abilities. If the truth be known this is a bit of a long shot. Given the stakes, it’s worth taking. But I won’t be surprised if we fail to communicate effectively. If that’s how it pans out I won’t be giving him a hard time about it and neither should any of you.”

  “I didn’t mean anything…” started Ivan.

  “Of course not Sir” cut in Ella before Ivan could finish his sentence. “You can count on us.”

  Dave nodded and catching sight of the lean Cranky Jack, the officers’ mess steward, he called out “Cranky has LCmd Simons been in yet?”

  Cranky turned with his trademark tea towel over his arm and a handful of plates held fast. “Earlier Sir, but he weren’t hungry…just pecked at my savoury pancakes…must be worried sick about Lt Chalker Sir.”

  “Yes I reckon you’re right. Thanks Cranky.” Warner slurped down his coffee, grabbed the last bit of toast on his plate, stood up and said to the others at the table “I’ll see you all in half an hour”. As he exited he munched on the toast but his thoughts were on Art. He knew Art was hoping for peace and the quick return of Sue Chalker.

  Warner found Art in his cabin. He was sitting on his bed with his feet on the floor and the fingers of his big hands digging deep into his scalp.

  Art looked up as Dave entered. “This is the pre op chat isn’t it?” queried Art.

  “Yeah I guess” replied Dave.

  “I suppose you are going to lecture me about remaining detached. Well don’t. I don’t need your sermonising, not now” said Art with a look that said ‘don’t mess with me’.

  Warner raised both hands with his opened palms towards Art. “OK, OK there will be no preaching from me” said Dave. “But I just want to make one thing crystal clear. Establishing comms with them is going to be a long shot. It’s worth trying but if it fails I will launch probes and warp to Doban before trying any rescue. I don’t want any antics from you at that stage. Is that understood?”

  “Yep I understand” said a resigned Art. “Thanks Dave. I do appreciate what you and everyone here are risking. I’m not ungrateful. I’m just scared shitless for Sue.”

  As he looked up at Dave his eyes began watering. ‘Where was the Mr Cool sleuth now’ though Dave. He had never seen Art like this before. Words were no good now. He sat down beside Art and put his arm around his shoulder.

  Art was taking in a few deep breaths. He regained his composure. Then he patted Dave’s thigh and started to stand saying “Come on Captain we have an enemy to encounter.”

  Dave stood up and looked again at Art. He had that steely resolve in his eye. It was his battle face. Dave had seen that look before and knew that Art would hold it together. “Yes we have.”

  Chapter 5. Hermes 0920, 22 June

  “Stations everyone” commanded Ella. “We’re coming out of warp in five minutes.”

  Of course everyone was already at their stations, certainly in the command centre. Warner scanned the faces. Some were busy but all were concentrated if not tense. They were about to come out of warp into what they believed would be enemy territory.

  What forces the enemy had, they did not know. Where they would be located, they did not know. Their attitude would most likely be hostile and belligerent. But there was a slim chance they may be prepared to talk peace after their rebuff on Klaster.

  For Sue’s sake Warner prayed they would be open to peace. Since being taken prisoner on Klaster she could have died of her wounds, she could have been killed on one of the enemy capital ships they destroyed over Klaster. Who knows what could have happened to her. But Warner felt certain that she was alive.

  He mentally reminded himself that her rescue must remain a secondary task. The prime task was to secure a peace settlement or if that was not possible to recon and harass the enemy in the Chelora belt. ‘Why is it that personnel matters are always secondary tasks and never primary ones’ he caught himself pondering.

  “Coming out of warp in one minute” announced Ella.

  This brought Dave’s focus back to the tasks at hand. He glanced over at Ivan. Ivan gave him the thumbs up just to reassure his boss. Dave nodded acknowledgement and then turned to Aubrey. She was totally focussed on the battle systems console in front of her. Dan Hoyle was looking directly at Dave. He was obviously nervous, but he too gave the thumbs up.

  “Coming out in three, two, one” said Ella. Her eyes were straining to see the big display screen. As the watch officer she was in command of the ship and this was the time at which the Hermes would be most vulnerable. The first priority was situational awareness.

  The ship’s vast array of sensors automatically activate on coming out of warp. The full electromagnetic spectrum is searched and analysed. Detections are identified and filtered. The ships Artificial intelligence (AI) automatically records every detection. Then it fuses detections to identify entities. These are filtered according to priority. Space ships are always the highest priority but ground based sensor and missile systems come a close second. These are then displayed on the battle systems throughout the ship. Depending on the operators role certain data is filtered out and thus configured to suit.

  The main display in the command centre came to life, first with an update of the physical space. Ella was rapidly digesting the display. She took in the display of the outer asteroid belt. Yes it looked just like the charts predicted. The largest asteroid in the belt was Chelora. It lay some distance from the outer belt. It was highlighted on the display as per Ella’s display configurations.

  She glanced at the icon lighting up on their left. “The Washington has just arrived.” It was good to know that their sister ship was on their flank.

  But this was not what she was craning to see. It would take several seconds for sensors to detect and more time for the AI to filter, fuse and synthesise the intel data into the common operating picture (COP). There it was…the first artificial detection. The icon on the screen indicated a broad spectrum sensor had just picked them up. ‘It must be close’ thought Ella.

  “They know we
’re here” cried out Aubrey. “No ships so far” she added. “Wait…cap bearing 10 degrees right…range 15,000kms…orbiting Chelora. Make that two, three, four caps and 9 lights, all orbiting Chelora. I have another light on the far side over 40,000kms away.”

  “Activity?” demanded Ella.

  “The light on the far side is cruising. All ships around Chelora are maintaining position” responded Aubrey. “Sensors also detect a good deal of space junk, possible destroyed space ships on the far side of Chelora.”

  Ella turned towards Warner. He nodded and she turned to Ivan who was waiting for the signal. He called out “Opening comms channels. Broadcasting message.”

  Chapter 6. Chelora 0926, 22 June

  “Incoming ships identify yourselves.” These words broadcasted in English over the open channel stunned everyone in the command centre. “Incoming ships identify yourself or you will be attacked” repeated the demand.

  Dave was looking at Ella, waiting to give her the opportunity to respond. She had the watch. Just when he thought he would have to intervene, Ella spoke “This is the Federation Fleet Ship Hermes with the Federation Fleet Ship Washington. We come in peace. Please identify yourself?”

  “This is the Imperial Rogan Ship (IRS) Kunter, flagship of the 10th Rogan Imperial Fleet. This is rogan space. State your reason for coming” responded the hailer with an imperious tone.

  Pious came forward and with a nod from Ella he took over the exchange. “This is Commodore Pious envoy from the Human Federation. This has been and IS…”emphasised Pious “Federation space. We are in pursuit of the Sleth Fleet which attacked our territory.”

  Another voice responded from the rogan ship. “This is Admiral Soola, commander of the 10th Rogan Imperial Fleet. We too have been pursuing the sleth. We encountered their fleet here two days ago, destroyed many of their ships. They have fled. We claim this territory by right of spoil of war. We do not recognise your claim and will defend our rights.”