A Quantum of Uncertainty
~~~ Book II - Jankin Decatur Series ~~~
Chapter 7: Ruse de Guerre
2180 C.E.
Inside the Oort Cloud
Approach to Sol System
Perhaps it was but a feeling of guilt but Captain Jankin Decatur somehow sensed he was being critically observed. He turned ‘round. His eyes met those of Commissioner Hollen watching from the bridge gallery; a confused, somehow angry expression masked the politico’s features.
Hollen’s question came through on Decatur’s private channel, “What is going on, Captain? Why have you halted pursuit?”
Jankin's response was all the colder for the shame he felt, “Orders, sir. Neither you nor your mission are not to be jeopardized nor am I to allow you to be waylaid.”
Jankin didn’t have to look at Alex to feel the man’s disgust as he continued, “Don’t you think there might be survivors inside that frigate? Kraken citizens? Those are our people, unjustly imprisoned on that CTAC vessel. They will be less than slaves.”
“Their futures are forfeit if not their lives unless we act.”
Jankin wanted to begin pursuit with all his heart, “I am under direct orders, sir. However, I am also directed that you have command once the mission is underway. Should you decide to risk your mission so that we may rescue Kraken citizens, then I would be obliged to attempt a rescue and intercept that CTAC raider. However, I must warn you, we are not on a full military frigate as was my previous command. We are little more than a converted merchant and lack SCOS deployment ability to support a ship-to-ship assault by rangers nor do we have a Wraith fighter wing. Should we pursue, we would be taking on a full frigate of the latest CTAC design. Should you decide to risk a rescue of our people, it will be a difficult task even if I commanded a full destroyer.”
“The mission, sir. You would risk more than our lives.”
Alex didn’t hesitate a moment, “I know where your heart lies. You were about to change course and enter pursuit before you remembered your standing orders. You were ready and willing to engage the enemy despite their superior firepower.” “Since your orders have placed me in command, I order you to pursue that starship using whatever means you see fit. Let’s give them our best. Let’s rescue our people.” Jankin’s reply was short and simple, “Aye aye, Sir.”
Decatur returned his attention in time to observe Sophie passing through a hot, rapidly disbursing cloud of radiation and ionized particles. Remnants of the Kraken merchant and most of its crew. Lieutenant Josh Osaka, Intelligence Officer, interrupted the captain’s concentration, “Two contacts, Sir. They are lifepods reporting multiple survivors on board including three injured and two dead.” The timing was paramount and the window of opportunity small if they were to hope for a successful intercept of the CTAC warship. Stopping to rescue survivors meant losing their quarry. Decatur’s decision came quickly. “Operations; make ready and launch our shuttle with a med team as pickup for those lifepods. Take supplies, extra food, and water as sufficient for them to make way on their own to Earth Orbital StarPort.” “Mr. Orso, adjust course to optimize shuttle launch then take us up to lightspeed. Let’s see about delivering payback. XO, you have the conn.” Directing a command across the HiveNet, “Major Stevens, please make preparations. I’ll join you in the shuttle bay.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
The airlock opened with but the slightest telltale hiss that would have marked a pressure imbalance. Red lighting inside saturated the shuttle bay, now mostly empty except for Commissioner Hollen’s sleek personal boat tucked and dogged securely in the far corner. Without hesitation, rangers entered on the heels of the departure of the survivor-rescue launch vehicle charged with picking up the merchant lifepods. An oily, sharp ozone mix saturated the bay’s air, a smell very familiar to Major Steve Walters. He knew it would dissipate soon enough but hated both the odor and the time lost for proper preparations. Hurried departures made for mistakes. Mistakes meant dead rangers.
Fitted out and ready, the major wondered where they were going and, more to the point, how were they going to get there? The bay was empty of every conveyance for offship departure except for Hollen’s private boat. Sophie was simply too small for a Slug Shot launcher so moving a platoon across the distance needed to board a hostile vessel already under slipdrive would be both impossible and considered foolhardy even by ranger standards.
“Do you forget the basics?” Sergeant Johann Jaeger’s voice echoed in the darkened bay. “You think you are ready? You think you can sit back and jaw the fat? It will kill ya. Use the time to check yours and then your mate’s suit seals. Pay particular attention to the fittings and do a last spot check on your breathers. You can never be …”
“Ranger’s ’ten-hut,” echoed from the walls as two figures entered.
“As you were, rangers.” Captain Decatur’s voice carried out. “Major Walters, walk with us a minute.”
They moved across deck so as not to be a distraction yet all eyes followed. Decatur turned, his voice low, “Major, we’re in a bind. There’s a CTAC frigate out there holding impressed colonial spacers; survivors of a merchant they just destroyed. That means I can’t just send a few Crest Runner anti-ship missiles across with the hope of blowing them across the universe. We want our people back here alive and that means I need your rangers.”
“Did you bring the crew-served launcher?”
“Aye, Sir,” Walters replied but was puzzled as to what the captain wanted him to blow up.
“Good,” Decatur replied. “I know it’s asking a lot, but if you fail we are dead.”
“I want your people positioned near the far wall of the bay, not against it, but as far back as possible from the outer bulkhead. Anchor in place, you have permission to sink tether bolts into the decking. By God, do whatever you need to survive the coming few minutes.”
“I know this is asking a lot but listen.”
.....
End Novelette --