The Chronicles of Aaen: April 2020

April 9, 2020

Dark Echoes - Part 26

The yeoman, six months into his Space Force service deployment as an E-3, rushed into the Admiral's office, breathing heavy, a readout in hand, "Sir! We got word from Odyssey!" The Admiral took the readout and scanned the display.

The look on the Admiral's face made the air feel suddenly chilled. Hayes was known for being punctual and precise in their LRM’s—this message confirmed the sum of his fears. “You confirmed this information as being from Odyssey?” He wasn’t about to give an order based on a potential counter-intelligence attempt; besides, the cold, steely look on his face caused the yeoman to stand nearly completely still.

The yeoman nodded.

The Admiral read the last paragraph, then locked the readout, intently putting the device on his desk. “Very well. That will be all. Dismissed.”

The yeoman saluted, then turned precisely for the door and walked out of the room.

The Admiral picked up the secure phone on his desk and then dialed the number for the president—

USSC Aurora

Location: CLASSIFIED

“Yes, sir.” The captain acknowledged, hanging up the phone. He was a two-star admiral who knew they should be behind a desk somewhere doing paperwork and overseeing fleet movements in some sector of Union space. This was not the case, they recalled, even though it was supposed to be the ‘normal’ process when someone makes flag. There was such a job available, and it was offered to him, but he declined, requesting a starship command instead, and this was the only such command available and was only available to a very specific pool of military candidates. He was lucky that he got the job, considering one had to be a flag officer to even be considered for it.

The ship was on yellow alert, in silent running—perfectly cloaked, physically, and to any known space-faring sensory system, and standing by for new orders since they had arrived at their current coordinates, which were, predictably, classified. About 50 people knew of Aurora’s existence, only five knew where she was parked, much less their current assignment. Aurora is one of only four of these classifications of the ship, and for many very good reasons. This conversation with the four-star gave them what they were waiting for.

The captain proceeded to the bridge at a fast walking pace. Odyssey’s location, and what they had discovered meant they needed backup. A new target had been designated. Diplomacy was doubtful to work. He had several ideas for how to proceed, though he only liked a few of them; there was one that his gut told him was the most likely to succeed, considering their new orders.

The antigravity lift doors parted horizontally. He stepped forward.

The X.O., a captain by rank, looked over her shoulder then authoritatively declared, “Admiral on the bridge!” getting the crew’s attention immediately.

Because the ship hadn’t been engaged, the crew stood at attention to show respect for their senior mission commander.

“Crew, at ease,” he commanded directly with a steely tone, taking the center seat and turning to the X.O. The bridge crew relaxed and resumed their duties. “Get us on course to the Odyssey. Maximum translight.”

She nodded and immediately relayed the order with a sense of urgency. The order was carried out in seconds.

“Sir?” The X.O. asked.

“Course laid in, sir! Engaging translight, factor 9.999—ETA: three minutes,” the Helmsman declared.

“Very well,”

“Odyssey found a terrorist dreadnought shipyard,” the X.O.’s spine tingled and the air suddenly felt chilled as she leaned back into her chair. “We’ve been ordered to disable the shipyard. By any means necessary.” His first instinct was to disable, capture, and detain. He hoped that’s all their presence would require, though he had a doubt the mission would go so smoothly. Hopefully destroying the shipyard won’t be necessary? Then he thought about those under his command. With that, his next order was clear, “RED ALERT! Activate the defensive matrix, arm all primary weapons batteries. Enable multi-target vector assault! Prepare to engage!”

*****

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April 2, 2020

Dark Echoes - Part 25

Aaen recalled the events from the end of the year prior. The hull shuddered like an 8.0-magnitude Earthquake as Wilson maneuvered Odyssey into position amid a violent barrage of pulsating particle weapon fire.

“Keep ‘er steady!” Sandberg methodically acquired the targets—every weapon this ship had was armed and ready to fire.

After multiple near-misses and a few direct hits, the crew was nearly thrown about the bridge and a flurry of defensive matrix alarms screamed the matrix was about to buckle; the spine-tingling roar of red alert spread like a wave through the bridge as the image in the main viewscreen began to tilt clockwise, contrary to the commands to the helm. Aaen realized his ship was starting to spin out of control, he thought in shock, as a section of the behemoth in the viewscreen hopelessly lit up and Aaen watched as a directed energy lightning bolt tore throw the bridge—

The next thing Aaen knew he woke upright in a panic in his captain’s quarters, breathing hard, his heart pounding against his sternum. His forehead felt damp with a bitterly cold sweat.

The intercom beeped on. “Smith to Captain Winter,”

Aaen tapped the control panel next to his bed, cleared his throat and gasped before answering, “Go ahead,”

“We received a priority-one from a four-star. Will you please come to the bridge?”

“I’m on my way.” With that, Aaen walked fast to take a quick shower in his private bathroom, then dressed in a fresh change of clothing, donned his uniform with a couple of sharp tugs to make sure his jacket looked smooth and professional, then rushed to his bridge. He relished the sound of the air circulation system, the subtle chirps, and beeps of the computers, the professional attentiveness of his now-well-rested crew to their duties, and found his first officer standing behind Hayes. Both officers looked at Aaen with straight faces.

“Report,” Aaen calmly commanded directly. The shock of the previous night’s images lingered in the back of his mind; the sensation was easily dismissed. It was time to get back into his chair.

They would be arriving soon.

Smith handed Aaen a one-way transparent printout. Aaen scanned the document, noting the priority declaration below the usual government and military salutations, then felt his gut sink, his hands suddenly felt cold as he looked up at Smith, who nodded at him.

“It’s legit, sir,”

Where they wanted Aaen to take his ship. . . You had to have a particular security clearance level that was virtually unheard of unless you’re the president. . . Or someone the president decided they trusted. . .

“Is the course laid in?”

“It is, sir,”

“What’s our ETA?”

“If we can sustain maximum translight, approximately three days from our current coordinates,”

As if this trip hasn’t already taken forever. Aaen thought about it for a second, then sharply commanded, “Execute,” with that, he sat in his chair and faced the front of his bridge.

His order was relayed and then carried out in seconds.

Aaen thought about his new orders. .and wondered, “I wonder what this is about?” He sat to the station to his right—his captain’s log computer, and a secure data uplink with the UIA. He started recording a new log entry video.

“Captain’s log—mission date: April 2, 2179; 0800 hours, Zulu. Odyssey’s been at high-transwarp since January second. Our official course is classified—we’re getting close to our destination; we’re about two hours away. The crew is well-rested and focused. The ship’s repairs and refitting were finished just before New Year’s Day. We got a few much-appreciated upgrades to our stealth system, engines, weapons, and the matrix. Our computer specialist decided to retire. A new technical/chief engineer has been assigned: Captain Kennett; he came most highly recommended by Admiral Williamson.

As of this entry, we are on full tactical red alert. We’ve been ordered to recon a suspected illegal shipyard run by in the underground by a group of terrorists who were responsible for the construction of the dreadnought destroyed last year. The escape pods got away. Not sure where the Valiant went. The UIA’s looking for the escape pods, and the Valiant. Intelligence indicates the shipyard is well-fortified. We will first assess the security at the shipyard, then report back. I doubt this mission is going to be as straight-forward as it seems.”

A sensor alert sounded. “Cap! There’s activity at the destination! LOTS of activity!” The crew had never heard her sound so shocked and alarmed.

With that, Aaen saved the recording in a secure database and then sat in his chair. “Activate the stealth system! Helm: slow to one-quarter.”

The lights dimmed with a subtle, haunting, reverberating hiss as the stars became visible.

“There’s a class-four moon orbiting the planet half an AU to our port quarter. Might be a good place to hide!” The recommendation seemed redundant, considering the stealth system, but it felt wrong not to bring it to Cap’s attention.

Aaen agreed with the suggestion. “You heard her, Commander,” Aaen commanded directly.

“Getting tons of comm traffic. Something’s up in there,” Hayes announced over her shoulder to the front of the bridge.

Aaen exchanged a straight look with Smith. The air suddenly felt chilled—they were truly treading on thin ice amid seriously Dark Echoes.