Chapter V. Let's Talk.
Captain Bunya and his Tarakan crews weren't having a good time of it. They were once considered among the cream of the Tarakan military crop. Now they were staring down the barrels of some wicked looking rail cannons. To add injury to insult, the Terrans had placed a platoon of their marines, along with their mechanical monsters, on each of the ships in his little task force. Now they found themselves headed through the Great Magnetic Storm back to the Mejelan/Tarakan system.
The Terrans weren't having a fun time of it either...
14 September CY450
It's been 2 days since the Tarakan a-holes tried to take the VIGILANT. I guess we got a lucky break. Who would have thought that we'd be the ones capturing their ships? Commander Reed and his intel and computer wonks are having a grand ole time poking around the Tarakan databases. It looks like the Tarakans had a run in with the Harvesters about six years ago. It took their combined fleets and help from other human colonies to beat back the FIVE motherships sent by Earth. Jeez, I bet there're stories to be told. In any case, there have only been sporadic reports of Harvester activity since then and they haven't been back since then. The Tarakans and the women on Mejale have also settled into some sort of truce.
Who would have thought men and women have been living apart for almost a hundred years. I know men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but this is ridiculous! According to the reports I've been getting from Commander Reed, the women and men are starting to learn to live together again with some problems along the way. I guess you can say those guys on the RONIN, TAURUS, and TECUMSEH just won't let old habits die.
According to the data dump from the comms buoy at the transit point, Fleet Command will be dispatching a diplomatic mission as soon as we make contact with the system. Gee, can't wait to meet the folks in that system.
Oh, well, I guess it's time to get back to work.
Captain Fujimura closed his personal journal and stretched before getting up from his desk. Taking a minute to look around his smallish cabin, he ensured everything was in order. His wife would be proud. Back home, his wife was constantly getting on to him about leaving things strewn about whenever he entered a room. If she could only see him now, he thought with a faint smile. "Oh, well, let's get to it."
A few minutes later, he entered the CIC where he found some of his command staff gathered around the large plotting table.
"Good morning, Sir, Commander Reed has been bringing us up to speed on what his crew has managed to pull off the Tarakan data cores. Commander Reed, please show the Captain what you've got," said Commander Renfro.
After adjusting his glasses, the ship's intelligence officer brought up a 3-D graphic of the VIGILANT's current position on the edge of the magnetic storm. He expanded the image until the magnetic storm resembled a huge donut with several specks orbiting a larger speck in the center.
"Sir, we're currently three days into the magnetic storm. According to the Tarakan navigation records, a transit through the cloud is about 588 million kilometers and we should be emerging on the other side in about two more days if we continue at quarter speed."
Anticipating the Captain's next question CDR Reed continued, "The planets Tarak and Mejale orbit equidistantly from the system's star on opposite sides. The two planetary governments have established some sort of cohabitation experiment at a pirate base in the asteroid belt midway between the two planets. I would recommend establishing contact there since there are representatives from both governments there."
"What kinds of experiments are being conducted there?" asked the Captain, cocking an eyebrow.
"Umm...right after the Harvester War, the two governments established an experiment to reintegrate the two societies, meaning getting the men and women to learn to co-exist peacefully."
"Ok, how're things going on the Tarakan ships?"
"They're maintaining position about two kilometers astern of us. Colonel Rathbun hasn't reported any problems from his troops although LT Steinberg is complaining about the combat rations."
Two days later, the little convoy broke through the magnetic storm and reached the edge of the Tarakan defensive perimeter. Essentially, a wall of mines and automated missile platforms, the defensive perimeter had been greatly bolstered since the end of the Harvester War. And now it was standing in the VIGILANT's way.
"Well, this is an unpleasant twist," remarked Captain Fujimura examining the holographic display.
"The gap in the defensive perimeter cleared by the Tarakan ships has been closed."
"Is there anyway to get us through without getting us blown to Kingdom Come or disturbing the perimeter?"
"We could always send the Tarakan ships ahead of us," mused CDR Renfro.
A short time later...
Captain Bunya sat impassively in the VIGILANT's wardroom, mindful of the two marines stationed at the compartment's hatch. After five days of being a virtual prisoner on his own ship, he was escorted to the Terran ship on one of their shuttles. He spent a few minutes studying the compartment and its contents. It certainly had the look of a warship's wardroom with its lounge areas, tables and miscellaneous bric-a-brac. The austere bulkheads were punctuated every now and again with portraits of various battle scenes and what he assumed to be landscapes from their homeworld. He had never seen so much greenery. Is that a dog dish in the corner?
As if to answer his question, he heard a little pant behind him. When he turned, he came face to face with the largest dogs he had ever seen. That thing had to be over 125 kilos! Without any conscious thought, he found himself scrambling atop the nearest table. The dog merely sauntered over and placed its front paws on the table top staring intently at the frantic Tarakan.
"He's not going to bite you, you know," said Captain Fujimura, "But, if you don't stop screaming you might upset him."
The little man had entered the compartment unnoticed by the Tarakan captain. Captain Bunya could see the two marines snickering over Fujimura's shoulder.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Captain Bunya.
"Roscoe here is the ship's the mascot. One of my pilots brought him aboard when he washed out of the military working dog program; something about him not having the killer instinct. Could you come off the table top and have a seat...please?"
As a reluctant Captain Bunya climbed off the table, he suspiciously eyed the other captain. "What do you want with me and what do you intend to do with my ships?"
"Well, according to your own data cores, they're not your ships, and I needed to talk to you."
Captain Bunya regarded the shorter man for a moment. "And just what makes you think that I'm willing to help you get through the barrier?"
"Captain Bunya, despite your blustering and the attempt to take over my ship, I think you're going to help me because there a bigger things to worry about than your petty prejudices against women."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the threat posed by the Earth and their Harvesters. And judging by your expression, I take it you're not buying this."
Almost spitting the words, "Captain Fujimura, the Harvesters have not been a threat since their defeat six years ago. What makes you think they're still a threat?"
"Things may have been quiet in this neck of the woods for the past several years, but the monsters are still lurking in the shadows. I have something to show you."
Before Captain Bunya could protest and bluster, Captain Fujimura picked up the remote control on the table and activated the flat panel display on the far wall. The Tarakan involuntarily gasped at the vicious battle being played out before his eyes.
"What you're seeing is footage from the YORKTOWN task force's encounter with a Harvester mothership."
Captain Bunya watched as fighters of obvious Terran design engage in a ferocious battle with Harvester cubes while capital ships slugged it out with cube gateways and other larger Harvester ships. Among the explosions and debris, he could see the Harvester mothership preparing to fire its energy cannon. Despite the fact this was gun-cam footage, he found himself screaming for the Terran ships and fighters to clear the monster's line of fire. As if hearing the Tarakan's urgent warning, the Terrans began to frantically maneuver out of the way. Most of them made it although some sustained heavy damage. He could see what he assumed to be a frigate-class vessel venting drive plasma. However, not all of the vessels were so lucky. Where there was once a 900 meter Terran destroyer, he saw an expanding cloud of ionized particles.
"That was the DARKAR; we lost 400 good men AND women on that ship, including a dear friend of mine," said Captain Fujimura seeing the Tarakan's reaction.
Before he could respond, Captain Bunya saw a familiar ship maneuvering bow on to the mothership's flank.
"What is that ship doing?" enquired the Tarakan.
"Watch," simply responded his Terran counterpart.
Before he could ask another question, Captain Bunya saw a silvery streak of light leap from the Terran ship followed by a brief flash from the ship's drive units. The camera panned from the Terran cruiser to the mothership which had mysteriously broken in two. Within seconds the remaining ships and fighters were raining missiles and rail gun slugs on the wreckage. The darkness of space was illuminated by flashes of light as hundreds of high yield EMP and plasma warheads impacted Harvester hulk. In the end, all that remained of the mothership was a large debris field punctuated by the occasional plasma explosion.
Captain Fujimura decided the Tarakan had seen enough and switched off the vid screen. A moment of awkward silence followed.
"Captain Bunya, what you have just seen happened five standard months ago about 30 light years from here. So I'd have say the Earth and its Harvester fleets are still a threat."
Reflecting for a moment on what he had just seen, Captain Bunya's response was a little shaky.
"I will tell you what you need to know about passing through the defense perimeter. I will also ensure no further resistance from my men. You have my word as a Tarakan officer and as a human," he said as he extended his hand.
Taking the Tarakan's hand, Captain Fujimura could only muster a simple, "Thank you, sir."
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Bow on – The Terran commander had the front of his ship facing the Harvester mothership's side. It fired it's main weapon, a mass cannon, which severely damaged the mothership. I'll explain more about the mass cannon later on.
Sorry about how long it took to get this chapter up. I had a monstrous case of writer's block. Hope it's not another 11 months before I get the next chapter up.