"Is there any power to the launch doors yet?" the Captain asked Sensors.
"Yeah, but not much."
"Operations, how much main power do we have?"
"A quarter of maximum."
"That's gonna have to do. Aaen, disengage the docking clamps."
Aaen looked at his computer screen, "I can undock the ship, but with that dampening field in place, there's barely enough power for thrusters or impulse engines to function at all." he turned to face the Captain. "This is gonna be a sluggish departure, Captain."
"Do it."
"Alright! We're gonna need Mission Ops to open the launch doors." Aaen was quick with the engine controls. The sound of metallic clicks and clashing filled the bridge; the bridge subtly vibrated. "We're free!"
"Main power is holding," said Operations.
"I'll try to keep us steady. Coming about, one-eight-zero." Odyssey was tilting and rolling as though she was connected to an amateur puppeteer's strings.
"C'mon, Aaen, that intruder's getting away!"
"Main power's starting to fluctuate!"
The main computer sounded a collision alarm. The port nacelle was probably getting too close to the docking arm, Aaen reasoned. He used the port thrusters to compensate for the static drifting increase in yaw. The alarm ceased. He grinned. Aaen relied on the port and starboard yaw thrusters, only adjusting Odyssey's relative altitude when the docking bay seemed to be getting taller. Almost there, he thought, firing the starboard yaw thrusters again, countering with port yaw, and then firing port roll thrusters as Odyssey starting rolling to starboard. The launch doors were now just barely visible seemingly hundreds of meters ahead. "We should be aligned for launch," Aaen said. "I've got enough power for one-quarter impulse, and then we're on thrusters. I'm having to correct for inertia manually, so we're gonna be fish-tailing our way out of here, sir."
"You better not damage my ship."
"On your order."
"Go."
"One-quarter impulse," Aaen said. She may be sluggish in responding, but she still takes off pretty quickly, Aaen continued to grin. The launch doors were gradually becoming visible. "We need to signal Mission Ops to open the doors, Captain!" Aaen was quickly busy with keeping Odyssey's course at least reasonably steady. The task proved more difficult than holodeck training simulations had indicated.
"Communications, tell them to open the doors."
The doors were now a little more than barely visible—Aaen was getting anxious. Open the doors. Open the doors!
"Fifteen seconds 'til collision!" Aaen said. The computer sounded an agreement.
Aaen listened to Communications signal Mission Ops as his heart rate increased, his palms became clammy, and his face felt like it was swelling and burning as the forward lights reached the doors.
The lights lining the doors started to blink, albeit briefly, and then the doors started to part—and then they stopped!
Wide-eyed, Aaen's gaze was fixed on his station. "Not enough clearance!—Captain we need to raise the shields!"
"Not enough power!" said Operations.
"Shut down the forward lights, and then reroute power!" Aaen said.
The First Officer snapped, leaning around the corner, looking up at Operations. "Do it! Hurry!"
"Hurry!" Aaen yelled.
"Shields going up!" Jason said.
The doors were now visible in the angled sunlight. Aaen fired the port roll thrusters. "We might be losing some paint! Hold on!" He tapped the up thrusters, and then let inertia do the rest. He clenched his jaws. The stiff hum of the impulse engines filled the bridge for two seconds as the hull started to pass between the doors. We're tumbling forward! Pitch up!—
BANG
The Earth shifted down and right on the main viewscreen as the bridge lights flickered sharply for several seconds, and then gradually recovered.
"Dorsal shields down to ninety-five percent," Jason said.
"No hull damage in evidence. No system damage." Operations said.
"Confirmed, Captain!" said the Engineer.
"I'm fine down here on deck two, thank you!" Demitri said. The bridge crew had a laugh.
"Glad to hear it, Demitri!" said the First Officer.
"That intruder must have a ship out here to escape to," Aaen said.
"Right. Start doing scans." said the First Officer.
"Scans in progress—" ten seconds later, the Sensors screen flashed thrice, accompanied by a trio of beeping sounds. "Sensor contact on our seven o'clock!"
"Main power is increasing to optimal levels!" said Operations.
"Scan for the identity of the sensor contact." said the Captain.
"Close-range sensor readings inconclusive for some reason. We have to get closer to get clearer sensor readings."
The Captain turned sharply to Aaen. "Aaen, pursuit course. Now."
Finally! Aaen thought. "She's holding steady, now. Coming hard about!" The sun was bright in the main viewscreen as it passed from left to right, and then the intercept target became visible and gradually larger. "Approaching target from her starboard quarter."
"Detecting a power buildup in the intercept target!" said Sensors.
"Looks like it could be engines powering up, or weapons systems."
"What kind of ship is that?" the First Officer asked.
"I can barely see it!" said the Captain.
"The nacelles. . . Looks like a. . . Miranda-class?" Aaen suggested.
"Captain, according to these readings, that ship outguns us three to one." said Sensors.
"We're gonna get some answers. Lock weapons on their engines! Aaen, take us within transporter range."
"They're moving away!" Sensors said.
"Follow them!" the Captain yelled. The main viewscreen lit up, and then the target disappeared.
"Sensors!" said the First Officer.
"They've gone to translight!"
"Which translight?" the Captain asked.
". . . Seven! Translight seven!"
"Calculating new intercept course," Aaen said. The task took three seconds; inputting the new coordinates took ten seconds longer.
"New course has been entered." said the Main Computer.
"I need power restored to the translight engines!" Aaen said.
"On it!—Okay, try it now!"
"Translight seven!" said the Captain.
"Engaging translight engines!"
"Speed change: translight factor seven. All hands: brace for translight speed, translight drive has been activated."
"Detecting no other ships in the vicinity." Sensors said.
"Let's hope the solar system isn't too congested today," Aaen said.
Using translight drive inside a solar system was not recommended for a good reason.
"No idea. Long-range sensors still aren't giving clear readings." Sensors said. "That other ship is barely still on short-range sensors."
A reverberating static hum filled the bridge for several seconds and then dissipated.
"What's going on?" the Captain asked.
"We're being scanned—they've got a torpedo lock on us!" Sensors said.
"RED ALERT!" the Captain yelled. The bridge turned red with an alarm almost instantly.
*****
Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."
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