Ep.#3.5 - Escape of the Free Fleet Read online

  The Frontiers Saga Part 3: Fringe Worlds

  Episode #5: Escape of the Free Fleet

  Copyright © 2022 by Ryk Brown All rights reserved.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “I’m telling you, our AI saved our ass,” Nathan insisted as he and Cameron stepped out of the elevator onto the Aurora’s command deck.

  “But she acted on her own,” Cameron argued. “Without your authorization.”

  “Her number one priority is to protect the well-being of the crew and then the ship,” Nathan explained. “She determined that diving deeper into the star’s corona, although risky, offered the best chance of survival. If she had taken the extra few seconds to explain her recommendation and get my authorization, the option would have been gone, and we would have taken too much damage to survive a deeper dive into the corona.”

  “It just worries me that her programming allows her to violate one of her primary directives in order to adhere to another. What happens if her decision to protect you causes others to die?”

  “It just requires a different mindset,” Nathan told her as they reached the bridge and turned toward the command briefing room. “For example, if you are about to enter a situation where sacrificing the ship and crew may be necessary to ensure the success of the mission, you’ll have to give her specific instructions to that effect. That way, she cannot take that action without authorization.”

  “And you figured that out all by yourself?”

  Nathan paused at the entrance to the briefing room, giving her a look.

  “No insult intended,” Cameron assured him.

  “Actually, the Aurora explained it to me,” he admitted, continuing into the briefing room

  Cameron smiled, following him in and heading to her usual spot at the far end of the table.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Nathan greeted as he took his spot at the head of the table closest to the bridge. “Robert, are you and Dominic with us?”

  The view screen flickered to life, and Robert and Dominic appeared from the Scott’s command briefing room.

  “We’re with you,” Robert replied from the view screen.

  “Let’s begin with you. How are things going on the Scott?”

  Robert turned to Dominic, giving him the floor.

  “The Bonaventura loaded us up. We’ve now got a single-jump range of five hundred light years, and once we finish installing the mini ZPED, we’ll have a recharge time of six hours.”

  “What about environmental and such?”

  “We haven’t found any loss of pressure in any of the critical sections, and as long as we only pressurize those areas and the corridors connecting them, I think the ship’s life support systems will get us through the journey. However, we will be keeping a close eye on it. We’re installing wireless environmental monitors that will alert us if anything changes.”

  “Did the Bonaventura bring you additional consumables?” Nathan asked.

  “They did,” Robert replied. “Not that we needed it. This ship wasn’t scheduled to be moved for several months, so her kitchen and pantry were fully loaded. Based on the inventory, the guests here ate much better than we did on the Aurora. But don’t tell Neli I said that.”

  “Same was true for us,” Aiden commented. “We’ve got enough food to feed a full crew for months.”

  “It wasn’t that way for us,” Cameron lamented. “No food, no water, no supplies whatsoever. We’ve been living off the rations we brought with us.”

  “What about the Navarro?” Nathan asked, turning to Aiden.

  “I’d say we’re in pretty much the same shape as the Scott,” Aiden stated. “Except, of course, we don’t have their jump range or a mini ZPED. But other than that, we seem to be pretty solid.”

  “Same for the Celestia,” Cameron stated, anticipating the same question would be asked of her. “Vladimir’s been compiling a prioritized list of repairs to be made, but most of them seem to be minor.”

  “Well, now that the Bonaventura has arrived, you’ll both be getting the same upgrades as the Scott,” Nathan assured Aiden and Cameron.

  “What are you planning on doing with our unexpected guests?” Robert wondered.

  “Yours are being transferred now. We’re assembling all of them in our mess now,” Nathan replied. “I plan on speaking with them after this meeting.”

  “Any idea what you’re going to say?” Jessica asked.

  “I was just going to wing it,” Nathan admitted. “I expect I’ll get a feel for the room quick enough.”

  “Surely you have some idea?” Abby said.

  “Well, I suppose we’ll have to make arrangements to return them to their homes,” Nathan admitted. “Although how we’re going to be able to do that safely, I haven’t figured out.”

  “If the Alliance is hiding the fact that the ships were stolen, then those people will present a problem for them,” Jessica warned.

  “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” Nathan admitted. “Still, they have the right to choose for themselves. Unfortunately, we are also responsible for providing for them, at least for a time, should they choose not to return to their lives as Alliance citizens.”

  “We could offer them residency on the new world,” Jakome suggested.

  “Some of them might be qualified to serve as crew,” Aiden suggested.

  “Either way, they’re going to present a security problem,” Jessica warned.

  “Along with the guests and overnight staff, there were two shuttle pilots mixed in with our group,” Robert told them.

  “What were they still doing there?” Nathan wondered.

  “We took the ship only a few hours after it had closed for the day,” Robert explained. “My guess is they were either lodging there or were still finishing up their work. I haven’t interrogated them. We’ve been limiting contact as much as possible.”

  “What about you?” Nathan asked Aiden.

  “No pilots that I know of,” he answered. “But we did take the ship in the middle of the night, so they had probably gone home for the day.”

  “Are you thinking of drafting them?” Jessica wondered.

  “If you mean offering them a job, then yes,” Nathan replied. “We need all the pilots we can get.”

  “Again, a security risk.”

  “You don’t think they’re Alliance plants, do you?” Cameron asked. “How could they be? The Alliance had no idea what we were up to.”

  “You assume they didn’t,” Jessica insisted.

  “Oh, come on, Jess. That’s paranoid, even for you.”

  “I’m surprised you’re so willing to trust them,” Jessica insisted.

  “I never said I trusted them,” Cameron argued. “But Nathan’s right. We do need pilots, and six of them now face uncertain futures back in their previous lives, thanks to us. We sort of owe it to them to give them a chance if they choose to take it.”

  “I’m not arguing that point,” Jessica insisted. “I’m just pointing out the risk. That is my job, after all.”

  “Duly noted,” Nathan stated firmly, wanting to move on. “So, it’s safe to assume that all three ships may continue their journey?”

  “The Celestia is safe,” Vladimir stated. “And I reviewed Chief Avelles’ report, and the Navarro looks even better.”

  “Really?” Nathan seemed surprised since all three ships were relatively the same age.

  “Sinocorp probably stopped doing maintenance on critical systems a few months before the Celestia was scheduled to be retired,” Vladimir explained. “I’m surprised that the ships are still in such good condition. I guess they had a good designer,” he added, boasting.

  “So, how are we going to get all these ships to Planet X?” Jakome asked.

  “Abby and I have been working on that,” Cameron stated. “We’ll have to limit our jumps to four hundred light years to ensure that we’ll have some power left in case we jump into a bad situation.”

  “Like what?” Jessica wondered. “We’re going to be out in the middle of nowhere.”

  “There’s still uncharted gravity wells, rogue black holes, and God knows what other anomalies to worry about,” Abby explained.

  “I’d also advise that every convoy jump be performed by a Dragon first for obvious safety concerns,” Cameron added.

  “Good idea,” Nathan agreed.

  “I would suggest that the Norleandar accompany the convoy as a support ship,” Jakome said. “She only needs to fabricate additional energy banks to bring her jump range up to match the others in the convoy.”

  “That would allow us to fabricate parts for any repairs needed along the way,” Vladimir agreed. “None of these ships has their original fabricators.”

  “It would also give us medical suppo
rt,” Cameron pointed out.

  “True, though I should warn you that the Norleandar does not have a physician on board. Just a med-tech and a well-equipped medical bay.”

  “Well, all we’ve got are a pair of med-techs with portable med-kits for all three ships,” Cameron replied.

  “How long until the Norleandar can get her jump range up?” Nathan asked.

  “They should be able to join the convoy by the time they reach the rendezvous point with the Scott,” Jakome replied.

  “What about the Bamonte and the Bonaventura?” Nathan wondered.

  “It would be best to keep both ships as they are,” Jakome stated. “That way, they can continue running supplies from within the Alliance to Crowden. I assume that is where you plan to stage?”

  “Actually, we were thinking of using Allen,” Nathan told him. “It’s more centrally located within former Brodek space, and its lack of trade makes it an unlikely target for pirates.”

  “Speaking of pirates, we need to discuss security for the convoy,” Cameron stated.

  “The Norleandar has defenses,” Jakome assured them.

  “But we don’t,” Aiden reminded them.

  “I figured we’d keep most of the Dragons with the convoy,” Nathan stated. “Do any of your ships have working launch and recovery systems?”

  “Ours function great,” Aiden said, “as a carnival ride.”

  “Same here,” Robert chuckled.

  “Our main elevator pad is working just fine,” Vladimir told Nathan. “And the main Dragon bay could be pressurized as well. We just haven’t done so yet.”

  “That’s a slow way to launch and recover, but I suppose it will have to do,” Nathan agreed. “I don’t suppose your pressure shields over the flight deck are working?”

  “I haven’t even checked,” Vladimir admitted. “We’re still running on fusion reactors. We need to shunt all available power to jump energy bank recharging, and pressure shields use a lot of power.”

  “Well, let’s plan on keeping two Dragons per ship,” Nathan decided. “But once the Celestia and the Navarro get their mini ZPEDS installed, I want those Dragons to somehow be launched and recovered from each of your ships. We can’t have those pilots sitting in their cockpits for a month.”

  “What about refueling and rearming?” Cameron asked.

  “The Norleandar has the facilities to handle that,” Jakome assured her. “And their shuttle bay is large enough to accommodate at least three Dragons at once. However, we would need to move some ordnance from the Aurora to the Norleandar.”

  “Easy enough,” Nathan agreed. “So, how long is this journey going to take?”

  “At four hundred light years per jump, they will have to make eighty jumps,” Abby explained. “With six-hour recharge layovers between jumps, twenty days; assuming we don’t have any delays along the way.”

  “We could cut that in half if we installed more energy banks,” Aiden commented.

  “I expect there will be plenty of things to keep your engineers busy as it is,” Nathan warned. “Better they spend their time on critical systems than speeding up the journey.”

  “It will also give the survey team more time to prepare for your arrival,” Jakome pointed out.

  “That brings me to my next issue,” Nathan said. “I think we need to use the Acuna to run supplies and equipment that the survey team will need to prepare. Maybe even send more personnel to help get things set up.”

  “Is the Acuna up for such a journey?” Jessica asked.

  “She has series jump capabilities, so she should be able to make the trip in a few days,” Nathan replied.

  “It would take the Bamonte considerably longer,” Jakome stated.

  “Maybe we should upgrade the Bamonte’s jump range?” Cameron suggested.

  “At this point, we’re still too dependent on supplies from inside the Alliance,” Nathan stated. “What we really need are more fabricators.”

  “We need a lot of things,” Cameron agreed. “It’s just a matter of prioritizing for now.”

  Nathan sighed. “Well, I suppose we don’t have any right to complain. Things are already looking far more promising than we’d expected.”

  “Don’t worry,” Vladimir told him. “I still have a lot of systems to check over. I’m sure I’ll find something.”

  “Oh, I feel so much better,” Nathan remarked.

  * * *

  Kayci held her six-year-old son’s hand, keeping him tucked safely between her and her brother Teo, just as she had for the last two days since the terrorists first took them hostage. They had been packed into the two shuttles in the Scott’s shuttle bay, having been told it was for their safety. Then, hours later, they were returned to their rooms and locked inside. No one offered any explanation, only food and drink to keep them alive.

  The next day, they were blindfolded and moved to another ship, where they were cooped up in a small cabin for another day and a half. Finally, they were put on another shuttle to be moved to yet another ship. And still, they knew not who their captors were nor what they wanted from them. Fear was the only thing they knew.

  Teo kept assuring his sister that they would be all right, citing their captors’ concern for their well-being despite their lack of communication. Not something one expected from terrorists or pirates. Had it not been for his constant reassurances and the fact that Jasher seemed to think it was exciting, Kayci was certain she wouldn’t have made it this far. Once again, as he had been so many times since his father had passed, her little boy was her source of strength.

  “Are we back on the Scott?” Kayci wondered as they descended the shuttle’s ramp into a familiar-looking hangar bay.

  “I don’t think so,” Teo said. “There’s something different about it.”

  “It looks the same to me, except the shuttles are missing.”

  It suddenly dawned on Teo. “The information plaques are missing.”

  “The what?”

  “You know, those plaques that were all over the ship. The ones explaining what each space was for, how it was used, and all that stuff. They’re all gone.”

  “Why would they take them off?”

  “I don’t think we’re on the Scott,” Teo insisted. “There’s no sign that the plaques were ever there.”

  “Mama! Look!” Jasher exclaimed, pointing to the sign over the exit from the hangar.

  Kayci and Teo looked up, their eyes wide and their mouths dropping open.

  “This is impossible,” Teo insisted.

  “We’re on the Aurora!” Jasher exclaimed with excitement.

  * * *

  “Holy shit,” Desi exclaimed as two people he knew entered the compartment where the Celestia’s pilots were being held.

  “Dez,” Corbin said, going over to his friend. “What the hell’s going on?”

  “Let me guess, you were on the Scott when they took it, right?”

  “I thought you two were flying the Celestia to her doom.”

  “They took us, too,” Desi explained. “Corbin, this is Lorelei, Kenrik, and Rylee. Guys, this is my friend Corbin. We went to flight school together.”

  “This is Sidney,” Corbin said, introducing the woman who came in with him. “We were both contracted to fly the shuttle tours. So, what the hell is going on, Des? Who are these people?”

  “You’re not going to fucking believe it,” Desi told him.

  The door opened again, and Nathan, Cameron, and Jessica entered.

  So far, Desi and the other three pilots who had been captured when the Celestia was hijacked had only seen Nathan on the view screen. Now he was here, in person, looking exactly like he did in the database, even though he was supposed to have died over five hundred years ago.

  Corbin noticed Desi’s expression of disbelief. “Should we know them?”

  “That’s Nathan Scott,” Desi whispered. “The Captain Nathan Scott.”

  “The guy who started the great war?” Corbin asked in disbelief. “No way.”

  “I’m telling you, that’s him. And that’s Cameron Taylor and Jessica Nash, all from the Aurora’s crew on her last mission.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  “For those who don’t already know, I’m Nathan Scott, Captain of the Aurora. This is Captain Cameron Taylor, my executive officer, and Lieutenant Commander Jessica Nash, my chief of security. And yes, history got it wrong. The Aurora and her crew did not perish at the battle of Gamaze. We were trapped by a singularity weapon used by the Ilyan, which we escaped by jumping through the singularity itself. Yes, I know that’s scientifically impossible, yet here we are, alive and well. A little banged up, perhaps, but alive. Don’t ask me how because I couldn’t explain it even if I wanted to. So, the question that is most likely on all your minds is, why did we steal three five-hundred-year-old warships? It’s quite simple, really. We need them, and Sinocorp was going to scrap them.”