Dark Echoes - Part 16

“Captain, can I have a word with you?” Smith asked Aaen discretely under his breath. Aaen turned and nodded. They stepped off the bridge next to the phase pad for deck 1.

“What’s up, Commander?” Aaen asked directly.

“What’s going on? Where are you taking the ship?”

Jones had started another sensor scan to try to find any other weaknesses in the mother ship. She reasoned if that thing comes back to life, we’re all screwed. There had to be a way to disable or destroy it! She looked over her shoulder while the scan commenced. She sensed curiosity from Wilson and Hayes. The communications array was still on what she decided was essentially a total radio-blackout.

Jones eyed the way just beyond the entrance to the bridge, whatever was being said, it had Smith puzzled.

Jones looked at Sandberg—they exchanged a look of confusion and concern. Sandberg reviewed the weapons’ status—Odyssey had one or two more full torpedo volleys left, and the particle weapons batteries were holding up okay. . .for the moment. How much longer would this thing still be able to put up any kind of a fight against that behemoth! Referring to the mother ship—

The ship’s Captain and First officer kept talking. . . Something was up.

Jones screen flashed thrice. The scan had finished, and not a moment too soon, she noted. She read the new sensor data as fast as comprehension permitted. . . Their power grid is almost 75 percent restored. . .“Oh, SHOOT!” She shouted under her breath. Aaen and Smith returned to their stations.

“What was that?” Smith asked.

“We need to go faster—much faster!” Jones declared in shock. 

No, Aaen disagreed. We can't keep running from this sucker. It's too fast, to over-powered, and too heavily armed for us to stay out of its weapons range. Aaen's gut told him they weren't going to outrun the mother ship, or the other two smaller ships, for that matter. . . He gasped. If this battle wasn’t going to be fought—much less won—with torpedoes and energy weapons against that thing, then there was probably only one other way they would be able to defend themselves. 

Aaen made a decision.

“Commander Smith, do whatever needs to be done to get the Valiant online, and operational. Away team, gear up! Get ready to load-out!” There was a eerie feeling sweeping through the bridge as Aaen commanded, “We’re going aboard the mother ship,” 

“Captain?” Smith asked abruptly. 

“We're going to engage them from the inside, and out,”

*****

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