To Fight With Honour
"Anything more" asked David.
"No" said Tammy. "All repairs and enhancements have been completed as best as I can do them. Ship reports everything is working correctly"
"Neat" David replied. After their discussion on the planet they had stopped over on, he had gotten Tammy to stop calling MAX Vessel 1918 and at least call it 'Ship' most of the time. The teen could understand the immense hatred Tammy felt towards MAX, but she had taken his words about forming a working relationship to heart and was almost clinically polite to the vessel's computer, but David thought of it to be the start of things.
"Where would you like to go, David?" asked MAX.
"I don't know" said the boy. Turning round in the chair, he looked at Tammy once more. "Anyplace you would like to go?"
"Home" she said simply. "However, since that is not an option at this time, I suggest heading towards the far edges of known space. My people, despite being somewhat closed towards others have sent out probes and survey missions – the trading vessel proves that. However, we have only sent out two ships to the out reaches of space, so we will be undisturbed there until we are ready to return"
"Max, can you plot a course to the outer edges of space?"
"Space is always expanding, Navigator. There is no outer edge"
"You know what I mean, Max" David rolled his eyes. "Bring up a map of where we are and a list of places we can go to – but make sure we go thorugh places that are quiet"
"Compliance" and a number of maps popped up on the viewscreen. Each of them showed a different route to the out edges of known space, though David noted one option had them making a wide detour around what looked like a planetary system.
"Why are you going around there?" he asked.
"That option is not safe, David" MAX said.
"Huh?"
"Several planets were destroyed by the use of thousands of nuclear weapons. The resulting debris is still radioactive after two and a half thousand years. No ship is capable of passing through it and survive"
"What about if we raised those shields?" asked David.
"We would still die" Tammy said. "Not straight away, but the radiation would still penetrate the hull after it has taken down the shields. Ship will continue to function, but all life inside would cease to exist"
"What happened?" David looked at the various options again.
"That system was a Phaelon colony. The entire system was one of both research and endless beauty. Many of my people would visit there for recreational purposes" Tammy paused for a moment. "When it was attacked, twelve million of my people were killed without warning or mercy. No ship of my people is permitted to journey there except once a year"
"What happens then?"
"Once a year a ship from Phaelon is sent to the system to conduct a memorial service to remember those that came before us. Out of all the planets, only the second one was left intact – albeit devoid of all life. The service is held there and takes one hour to complete. This ship has the strongest shields, armour and hull we can give it in order for it to come back" and David looked between the planet map and Tammy.
"Okay, so we'll go around it. Max?"
"Yes, Navigator?"
"You've got the wheel"
"Wheel?"
"Just fly us away from here"
"Compliance" and the engines powered up and they moved away.
"I'm going to check the engines" Tammy said and climbed down into the engine room below.
"Max? Can you calculate something please?"
"What is it, David?"
"How quick will that radiation affect us through the hull?"
"Assume a standard approach inwards of the orbital plane of the system, radiation will reach lethal levels in one earth hour" MAX replied.
"Add the shields being raised"
"Recalculating… Radiation will reach lethal levels after one and a half standard hours"
"How long does this service last for?"
"David, I know what you are thinking of, and I have to sa–"
"Tell me how long this service lasts and what happens"
"The service lasts for one half of your hours. A small sacrifice of an item is done, normally a gemstone, and then the High Priest leads those who have made the journey in chanting and prayer before the conclusion"
"What if we wore the suits we got from the planet?" asked David. "We could go in at high speed, let Tammy do what she has to and then get out of there"
"Navigator, the amount of radiation would still reach a level from which there could be no survival" MAX said.
"I understand that. Max, I want you to plot a course to that system and keep it updated with our newest position. When Tammy has gone to sleep, I want you to wake me up so I can pilot us in"
"David, I am sure that she would appreciate your thoughtfulness…"
"That is an order from your Navigator" David said. "Override all other concerns and do not reply to any questions asked by Tammy until you know otherwise. Now then" he grabbed some food and drink from a box, "Play one of those movies you scanned"
#
"Tammy?" David gently nudged Tammy from where she was sleeping. He was unsure if there some either some kind of alien code he didn't know, but he had always found Tammy asleep on the floor of MAX.
"David?" the young alien woman opened her eyes slowly. "Is something wrong?"
"Not really" said David, "But I thought you might like to see this on the screen"
"Very well… Please allow me to put on some clothing"
"Oh…" David blushed heavily and hurried back up the ladder to the upper level. A few minutes later and Tammy had entered the upper level and was stood by the raised chair. "Max, please turn the screen on"
"Compliance" and the front turned into the screen and showed a barren and desolate world that held no life at all.
"Max and I talked about you and your people, so I know how much this place means to you. I've spent most of the night awake trying to come up with calculations, and I think we've got something workable" and a small part of the screen had a box superimposed over it and displayed a lot of figures and computer commands.
"What have you done?" Tammy blinked the last remaining bits of sleep away from her mind and then examined the working out.
"Max and me managed to work out that if we got into suits and pumped out the air, then raised shields and go to the planet at top speed, we'd just have enough time for you to complete your ceremonies" David said.
"This is a lot of trouble for just one person"
"Its your heritage… Even a situation like this, you shouldn't forget what makes you you"
"Thank you… I assume that Ship gave you all the information you needed about the services and ceremonies?"
"I did" MAX replied
"Thank you, Ship" Tammy said almost warmly. "We must hurry as the time of the ceremonies and services are shortly upon us"
"Well all we need to do is get in the suits and we're mostly there…" David said, then brought up the manual steering controls. "Your planet – you drive"
#
The ceremonial things seemed to be mostly chanting, though at the end, Tammy had briefly removed one glove off her hands and sliced her palm open.
"I, Tamilikansqueseverkin-toola Kurch, Daughter of the planet Phaelon, do swear upon my ancestors that the memories of those killed here will never be forgotten by myself or my friend David of the planet Earth who risked his safety, his freedom and his life to bring me here to remember you all. By the power and in the name of the great God Sera, I make this sacred vow" and she made an extremely tight fist – allowing the blood to drip into the radioactive soil and dust. She then briefly knelt and placed her bloody hand into the ground before rising and putting her suit glove back on.
"Navigator, I am detecting vessels approaching the outer edge of the system. I request instructions" MAX spoke to David in the suits speakers.
"We are returning to the ship" said Tammy. "Prepare for departure and standby for radiation safety protocols"
"Navigator, I am detecting additional vessels entering the system – unknown classification"
"Is the radiation affecting your sensors?" asked Tammy. "Perhaps your sensors are reflecting and distorting the incoming vessels"
"No, these vessels are much bigger and employing a power source not used by Phaelon vessels"
"Scan your data banks for anything close"
"Compliance"
"You better go down below and have a bath" said David to Tammy as they hurried into the ship and were washed over by a bright pink beam emitted from MAX's eye stalk.
"That would be best" said Tammy. "Will you also throw down some Anti-Radiation medication?"
"Sure" and Tammy jumped down into the engine room and closed the door almost all the way – leaving a small gap for David to push through some medication. As David stripped off his suit and placed it into a storage unit, MAX spoke once again.
"David, I have scanned memory banks as requested and have managed to identify the vessels incoming. They match three vessels that were on Margerital III during our stay. I am reading ablative hull armour, particle cannons, torpedos, missiles… I believe them to be heavy cruisers"
"Why come here?"
"Unknown" said MAX. "However, I do not believe they have detected us due to the radiation. In addition, their course is not towards us but towards the incoming Phaelon fleet. Their manner does not appear to be one of military purpose, but more of a piratical nature"
"What would they want with the Phaelons? That ship is more powerful then they are"
"But that ship is not armed" said Tammy's voice. "When it leaves once a year for here, it does so without most of its weapons. It only has a forward firing low power laser and three small escort vessels. If it was captured, then they would take my people's High Priests and most of our cabinet as well"
"Are the escort vessels capable of taking them on?"
"No" came MAX's reply.
"David, I know that you wish to go away and not be captured, but my people need my High Priests or we will fall into darkness and despair. If the cabinet are taken, then they can be used as hostages as well… Will you help them by fighting?"
"Navigator, I can not engage the pirate vessels" said MAX.
"True" said David, "But if we worked together, then maybe they'll let us go" and he closed his eyes and sighed. "Charge weapons, power the shields, plot an intercept course and open a link to the Phaelon vessels"
"That will give away our position to both sides" MAX cautioned him.
"I know that" said David, "But it is our only chance"
"I understand, David. The channel is open"
"This is David Freeman onboard Vessel 1918. You have incoming enemy vessels which are armed and cleared for fighting. We are going to intercept their fleet and give you time to either run or, better yet, join in the attack. David out. MAX are there any weaknesses in the design of the ships?"
"I detect none, Navigator, but you may find some yourself" and the image of the ships came on the screen.
"Are those turrets or fixed weapons?" asked David.
"Most of the weapons are fixed, though two on each side are turnable"
"What are their shields and weapons like at the back?" asked Tammy from down below.
"Two small turrets and weaker shields to allow passage of their engine exhaust"
"Ah ha" David remembered everything he could from watching Star Trek. "If we put everything into blasting past them, then come about and hit them from behind, we should knock out their engines"
"There is no chance of that working, David" MAX said.
"True, but it will give the Phaelons chance to plan what they want to do. What do they want with us anyway?"
"I do not know. I am detecting machinery signatures that closely match Phaelon technology" MAX said.
"How did they get…" David groaned. "Tammy, what did you do?"
"They wanted me to use my people's technology to repair and upgrade their ships" she said. "Phaelons do not share their technology"
"What about you sharing some stuff with me?"
"That's different" said Tammy, rising up from the engine room.
"We're going to have to have a talk later" David said. "For now, though, we're looking at trying to win here"
"David, the Phaelon vessels have acknowledged your signal and request that you inform them of your intentions" MAX said.
"Tell them I intend to attack" said David. "Tammy, I need to know exactly what you did with their ships"
"I created a feedback loop that will damage or render their ships unusable through their main reactors" Tammy replied.
"They have back up generators, but they can only power half of their systems" MAX said, reading the results of his scans.
"How many hits does it take to cause the failures?" asked David, going over everything he knew about space fighting. However, all he knew about fighting in space was from watching Star Wars and Star Trek…
"Six hits" Tammy said. "That should be enough to knock out the main power systems"
"Great"
"But we can only fire five shots at one go. After that, we must wait three minutes to get a full charge"
"Great… What about your ships?"
"They are not my ships"
"You know what I mean" said David. "They got the firepower?"
"If they fired at the same spot at the same time, then they would be able to take down the shields, however they would then be in the same situation as we would be in"
"David?"
"Yes, Max?"
"The incoming vessels have detected our approach and are moving to intercept us"
"All power to the forward shield"
"Compliance"
"David to Phaelon vessels. Target all of your weapons onto the same point as we are. If you fire at once, you will disrupt their shields and knock out their main power supply"
"The fleet has acknowledged" MAX said.
"Tammy, is there any way we can increase power to the weapons?"
"Not for firing, but if I connect the back up power supply and link it up with the batteries we might decrease the recharge to one minute"
"Then that's what we'll do" David said, jumping up from his seat. "I'll give you a hand. Max? You've got the wheel"
"Wheel, Navigator?"
"Just pilot"
"Compliance"
#
"Commander, I have completed records scan"
"And?"
"Vessel 1918 was last seen escaping the homeworld on a course to a planet known as Earth"
"Earth?"
"Yes, Commander. It is in the Mutter's Spiral and is the third planet in the system – the only inhabited one, as it happens"
"Yes, I remember now… We sent Vessel 1918 to collect a sample of Earth's most intelligent species for examination. When it returned from delivery of all of the specimens, Space Command discovered it had malfunctioned. We believe it may have suffered an error when it scanned this human"
"Human?"
"Yes, the primary lifeform of this Earth. It was a long time ago, so I did not realise or remember the planet at first. One of our scientists was ordered to take it apart slowly to find out what had happened, but she stole it and ran away. We gave pursuit, of course, but it outran the guard ships and was last seen heading into deep space. We sent other ships out to find it, but none ever returned with useful information, so it was presumed it had encountered some force and was destroyed. Why has it returned after fifty two circles?" the tall dark orange skinned Phaelon mused.
"I have no idea, Commander" the other officer said, "But our scans do indicate some additions to its programming and standard specifications. Whoever this David Freeman is, he must have some knowledge of our systems and technology"
"Indeed… However, that is not the problem at this moment. For now, advance and proceed as the lifeform said. Divert all power to the forward weapons grid and prepare to open fire"
"Yes, Commander"
#
"Time to firing is one minute" MAX said.
"Right" David said, coming out of the engine bay into the main area. "Max, whats that tower thing sticking up off the front?"
"A communications tower. Although powerful, they are weak on their own and so must co-ordinate their attacks. I believe that whichever ship is the lead vessel sends out orders to the others"
"Looks like it" Tammy said, head and shoulders in an access panel in Max's bulkhead. "Try now, Ship"
"Compliance" and there was a noticeable hum which grew quickly.
"What have you done?" asked David.
"Increased the power to the weapons by disregarding the safety devices. I can offset the heat by venting the atmosphere to space"
"Right…"
"Time to firing in ten seconds" MAX warned. David watched as the ships grew larger and larger on the screen.
"Target the front of the ship – one shot only. Make it as powerful as you can!"
"Ready"
"FIRE!" and a glowing red beam lanced out from MAX and struck the other vessel – causing the shields to glow a sickly green.
"Target shields are at 95%" MAX said. David was about to reply when the ship shuddered and wobbled violently as it was hit by weapons fire.
"Hard to starboard" David said, lunging for the chair. "Bring us about… Lock on engines"
"Target locked on. Ready to fire"
"Fire!" and the same beam lanced out several times and smashed into the shields. They glowed the same colour as before flared suddenly and died.
"Shields are down" MAX reported. "How did you know that would happen?"
"It was a guess" said David. "If we hit the front shields, then they would need power from the back shields"
WHAM!
The ship was hit and swung out of control.
"Do something, Max" David said, trying to peel himself off from the floor.
"Attitude control has been disrupted. I am attempting to reroute through other circuitry" Max said calmly. "The attempt has failed. I am unable to regain attitude"
"Kill the engines"
"Compliance" and the tumbling slowed somewhat.
"Ship, list damage" Tammy groaned, holding the side of her head.
"Shields are disabled, Weapons are offline, hull breach in the lower spaces, life support is failing, attitude control has been lost"
"We're finished" David groaned.
"Maybe not" said Tammy. "Get into the suit. Ship, be ready to open the hatch"
"Request explanation"
"We're going to enter the asteroids at the edge of the system and try to make a forced landing. Once that is done, we'll try to make repairs"
"Request explanation"
"By opening the doorway, the escaping oxygen will act as a rocket blast"
"Request explanation"
"Do you smell that?" David sniffed the air, looking to see what was causing it. "Fire!" he cried, ripping off his jacket and smacking it against the fire. "Tammy, get manual control working. Rip out wires if you have to, but get it working"
"Yes" Tammy used her better strength to tear off panels and rip away at wires with some tools. "I am afraid that all I can save are engines, a single scanner and communications"
"Have I got manual control?"
"Yes" Tammy replied. "Scanner data is on the screen" and the darkened front of the ship weakly lit up showing various systems in English – most of them coloured in flashing red. What data he could see of the outside area suggested that the attacking ships had been reduced to two with one either destroyed or done a runner. A second ship appeared to fending off the escorting Phaelon vessels whilst giving covering fire to the command ship.
"Its going to ram" David said.
"We have to do something" Tammy gasped.
"That big ship has no weapons at all?" David looked at Tammy's face in the flickering light from the fire in the otherwise dark interior of MAX.
"Noting to fend it off, and the escort can not get to it in time" Tammy looked at David. "We're the only ship in range"
"All we can do is call them names" David said. "Unless…"
"Unless what, David?"
"I need you to turn everything off except for the scanner and the engines. Divert the power from those systems and whatever we have left into the engines"
"Request explanation" MAX said.
"Not talking to you" David said. "Given half a chance I shall try to ram the bastard"
"You are willing to give up your life to save my people?" asked Tammy.
"Two lives for hundreds… Its worth it" David shrugged. He brought up the manual controls and looked at the scanner details. "All power to engines – give me ramming speed"
"Ramming speed" Tammy nodded. "Compliance, Navigator" and David flashed her a grateful look before throwing the ship forward with everything they could muster. With damage to the engines now acceptable, Tammy had disengaged the few working safeties and was chucking everything into building as much speed as she could. After a moment, and seeing there was nothing that she could do more, she left the guts of MAX and crossed to stand next to David. "Navigator, we will hit the ship in three minutes" and David nodded and then flicked open the communication channel.
"David to Phaelon vessel. You have incoming enemy about to make either an attack run or a kamikaze attack into you. Our weapons are down and your escorts have not got a hope in hell of making it here before it is too late, so we're going to ram them. I suggest you put up whatever shields you have and make a run for it. Out"
#
"What is this Kamikaze?" asked the officer.
"I do not understand that word" said the Commander, "But I assume that the enemy ship is going to take us out by impacting with ours. Power up all weapons, target that ship and report to me when you can fire"
"But the nearly all of our weapons are locked out of use" said the other officer.
"Well get them unlocked. Launch any fighters that we have and tell them to harass that ship. Weapons?"
"Sir?" another Phaelon, this time a light orange coloured in the skin tone, answered.
"Start hitting the ship with the navigational beams. We might not be able to cause enough damage to disable or destroy it, but we might slow it down a bit. Issue the recall order to all of our escort vessels – Priority One Zero Alpha"
"Yes, Sir"
"Fighters launching"
"Escorts have acknowledged. Vessels 497 and 612 report some minor damage to their engines but are under control and will proceed to us. Vessel 530 has shield failure but remains combat effective and will commence attack the moment it gets within maximum range"
"Very well" the Commander said. "Navigation, lets see what we can do to help ourselves. Reverse power to engines. All engines full reverse"
"Yes, Commander. Controls to full reverse… Now reading full reverse" and the gigantic vessel started to move backwards from the incoming pirate vessel.
"Navigational beams ready"
"Lock on enemy vessel"
"Targeted"
"Fire" and ice white beams lanced out and impacted the shields – but the other ship just kept on going.
"Vessel 530 is opening fire" and the scanners showed weapons fire coming from the other side along with one Phaelon vessel making a bee line for the approaching hostile ship"
"Weapons are online. Estimate one moment until they are charged"
"Very well" the Commander watched as the brave but battered ship continued to dodge fire and keep a constant course towards the engines. He assumed they hoped that by hitting them there, their destruction would either disable the other ship or else take them up too. "Order our fighters to pick their own targets. Escorts are to fire on the engines"
"Weapons are charged"
"Target the incoming vessel" the Commander smiled with relish. "Navigation, forget the reverse now… All engines ahead flank"
"Yes, Commander. Controls to ahead flank…" and the ship slowed and then lunged forwards. "Now reading ahead flank"
"Weapons, in the name of those that died here and in the name of Sera, open fire"
#
"Wow!" David looked at the scanner information that showed the large Phaelon vessel stop its retreat, move forwards and then start to unleash its weapons. "Looks like they came to the party armed to the teeth"
"The Commander must have ordered the weapons unlocked" Tammy said. "The Escorts are moving in for the attack as well, and I think somebody has launched small fighters as well"
"Well so long as we can get to them and knock them out, that's all that counts" David said.
"David, Escorts are targeting the engines" Tammy was interpreting the information on the screen that had gone back to its default Phaelon. As they hurtled to their own doom, one of the red coloured systems suddenly turned green. "According to this, our weapon just came back on"
"How?"
"I do not know" Tammy replied in confusion. "I diverted all power to the engines, but according to this it is ready to fire"
"I don't think I can fire them from here" David said. "Can you fire them manually?"
"Yes" and Tammy hurried back over to the open panels and twisted various wires together and poked at others with strange tools that glowed, hummed or whistled. "There is power for one shot only" she announced. "One of the near misses must have knocked into place again"
"Well I am not going to argue" David said. "Fire in the hole!" and Tammy, though not understanding that phrase of her companion's, worked out it was an order to fire and so touched two wires together. All at once, there was a load of sparks as the shot caused nearly every system to fail at once. The solid beam made its way out and slammed into the rear of the pirate vessel and kept on going – finally stopping midway inside.
#
"Commander, the enemy vessel has been disabled"
"Blow them out of the stars" the Commander ordered. "No…! Wait a moment! Assemble what soldiers we have and have them go aboard and take control of that ship. I want to know why they decided to attack us here of all places and I want the surviving crew to stay surviving crew. Let the other ship go, but have the Escorts make ready a tow"
"Yes Commander"
"What about our friend?" he asked.
"Scanning… I am reading multiple hull breaches, shields and weapons are offline, engines are down and life support has failed. The engines have cracked and radiation is spreading throughout" another officer on the command ship of the small Phaelon fleet read her readings. "I am reading two life forms aboard – one appears to be Phaelon. I am unable to determine what species the other is. Both of them appear to be in need of urgent medical attention. Commander?"
"Yes, Officer?"
"The ship's pulse beacon appears to confirm this David Freeman's comment - that is Vessel 1918"
"My word…" the Commander breathed and looked out of the forward view port. "Medical and rescue teams to the hanger deck. Bring that ship in… Full radiation safety protocols. Navigation, slow ahead both engines. Close the distance between us and Vessel 1918" he looked as a gentle and warm coloured purple beam hit MAX and slowly arrested the tumble and pulled it carefully into the bay. "Sub Commander"
"Sir"
"Once repairs to the enemy vessel are completed, have our Escorts go aboard to augment the crewing. Once complete, set course for Phaelon – maximum speed. You have the deck"
"Yes, Commander. I have the deck"
A/N:
Well I hope you enjoyed that a lot – I know that I did!
Hope to see lots of reviews for this as it was a pain to do on occasions.
Regards
Pixel and Stephanie
