As they came closer, Dahms peered intently ahead. She could see the two ships sitting silently on their pads like sleeping giants waiting to awaken and go into battle. Her heart began to pound as she anticipated the coming conflict between the four of them and the crews of these two warships.
Any man who was assigned to a G15 was trained to the 'nth' degree in all forms of combat and was ready for anything that might come down the line.
She suddenly realized she was more frightened now than she was when they were fighting for their lives in Hurd’s infamous “Run.” It occurred to her, even with all their planning and drilling, their chances of success weren’t all that good.
But they had to try. Without control of these destroyers there was no hope of freeing the Galaef.
The G15 destroyer was considered by most war strategists as the most powerful conventional weapon known to mankind. The shell of the ship was made of an atomically forged metal alloy called merilite, which was second only, in strength, to norimuinatit, but three times lighter. The ship was so close to being circular it was difficult to tell that it was oval in shape, nevertheless the pilot and control room were at one end of the oval and the engine room which contained a Zen I crystal power plant was two decks below and at the other end of the oval. The ship was 55 meters in length, 45 meters wide, and 40 meters in height. It was big enough to sleep, feed, and house 100 men comfortably. On the other hand, it was so easy to handle that a skeleton crew of nine men could wage battle. All they needed was a pilot, a copilot, a navigator, a fourth dimensional navigator, an electro tech (in the event that any of the electronic equipment might be damaged or start to malfunction), three men to double as cook, mechanic, and medical officer, and then, during time of battle, to man the three photonic guns, and finally, one man was needed to fire the torpedoes or the sonic bombs.
If the G15 wasn't going into battle, it could be handled by a crew of five, and in emergencies two men could fly and maneuver it.
One photonic gun could fire 36,000 rounds of phasor bolts within the duration of an hour before it would have to stop to cool down. It could carry enough Zen I crystals to keep all three guns firing for twenty-two hours.
And last, but most significantly, it contained a fully stocked arsenal of two comboys, two seeks with fifty rounds each, two portable laser canons, two portable missile cannons, 120 phasor rifles, 120 phasor hand guns, a various assortment of hand weapons including standard issue knives and crossbows, 100 torpedoes, and 500 sonic bombs (which were misnamed because they are actually missiles).
The fire-control technician, who fired the sonic bombs, had at his fingertips the power to obliterate an object as small as a man or as large as a city. It would completely disintegrate anything it hit with the exception of an object made of norimuinatit—upon which the sonic bombs had no effect. Needless to say, it was important that the fire-control technician be perfectly skilled in the employment of sonic bombs. It was a silent, but extremely lethal force.
Freeing the Galaef and Sam's sister wasn't Dahms' first motivation for commandeering the G15 destroyers. If they could get control of these warships, Hurd’s reign of terror would come quickly to an end.
Dahms set the shuttle easily on the landing pad. It was early morning and the sun was rising on the horizon. In the distance, straight ahead, she could see lights coming from a small domed city. It was the Employee City where the crystal processing plant was housed. To the left she saw the lights along the walls of the prison. It occurred to her that their mission had to be successful. They had to get Viella and the Galaef out of there. She was concerned about Sam’s mental frame of mind if they couldn't save his sister. And the Galaef, what could one say? Someone was tampering with the workings of the Galactic Empire, which in the long run could result in Galactic chaos, wars, and the unnecessary loss of many lives.
Dahms could hear the hum of the antigrav motors wind down as she pushed the off button. "This is it," she said. She placed her finger on the 'door open switch' and the four doors arced out and up. She stepped out and looked up at the G15—an awesome sight.
For them to be successful, they had to have all the crewmen in one room. For this reason, Rogae X had sent a message stating that everyone in the ship, in case of an attack, had to be well acquainted with the internal layout of the prison. Thorne wouldn't be happy if the rebels were successful in taking over the prison. The excuse seemed plausible enough; at least, she hoped so.
She secretly pulled the palm stunner from her pocket and placed it neatly into her left palm. It bothered her that there were double agents in the revolutionary forces. How high up they went, she didn’t know, but that’s how she was captured the first time. If a double agent had sent word to the crews of these ships, and they had set a trap for them, all would be lost. "Is everybody ready?" she asked as they started walking toward the destroyer.
"My palm is getting a little sweaty," said Sam, "from the you know what,” he said in a whisper as if he were keeping it a secret from the men aboard the G15. “Other than that everything is peachy, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be." With his free hand he stroked his mustache.
The ship was sitting peacefully on two semi-circular rows of landing feet—big dome like projections, which were powered from inside the shell just before landing. There were three feet in each row.
"It looks too serene," said Xygliper. "Let's stir things up a bit."
The other three let out a nervous laugh.
From a distance the destroyer looked small, but up close it was huge. They had to walk underneath the outer rim, which was, at least, twenty feet above them, before they came to the outer door lock, which was ten feet off the landing pad. As they approached, the door pulled back, moved to the side, and a ramp slid to the pavement.
Dahms started up the ramp with Sam behind her, next came Gaal with Xygliper behind him.
A man appeared in the doorway. He stepped out and shook Dahms hand. "My name is Xilil," he said. After the introductions were over he said, "If you'll come this way I will escort you to the Captain's War Room." Rogae X had told Dahms that the Captain of this ship was Commander Mace.
When they entered the War Room the first thing that struck Dahms was the large strategy table in the center. It was oblong and at least 25 feet long and 15 feet across. There were two dozen stations around the table, which consisted of computer screens with headsets and chairs mounted on swivels. At the head of the table was a pilot control station and next to that a fourth dimensional navigation station.
The War Room was connected to the bridge by a large opening in the wall, which almost made them one room, except the War Room, even though it was large, seemed to be set in an alcove.
Inside the bridge Dahms could see the Captain’s chair and a large screen set in the bulkhead, which was twenty feet in front of the Captain’s chair. There were various stations inside the bridge which she had no idea as to there purpose.
"Is this your first time aboard a G15?" asked Xilil with a tone of pride.
"That's correct," responded Dahms letting out a small mental sigh of relief. So far, so good, she thought.
"In that case let me show you around." He pointed at one of the stations at the table. "During battle, war strategists sit at these stations and, in conjunction with the computer, they quickly figure the best fight or flight scenarios for attack and retreat strategies. The center of the table lights up in a three dimensional space continuum with this ship projected as a small blue dot in the middle and the enemy ships projected as red dots. Each of the strategists tell the computer what they think the best plan of action might be, and then the computer computes the figures and presents them to the commander, who, being at the head of the table, makes the final decision. It's quite impressive," he said. "I've never been in a real battle, but we've had plenty of mock battles in which we were tested on our combat ability. I'm not a strategist, but I get to see the action because I sit over here." He pointed at a station against the bulk
head on the other side of the room. As he walked toward it he said, "I'm the head communications officer and this is my station. From here I can contact any Federation ship in the Galaxy. Since we've been on this assignment I haven't had to use it. The only communications we've had to make is to the Commander, and we've used the short distance radio with satellite link ups." He pointed at the bulkheads. "You see all those lights—some blinking and some not?" He didn't wait for an answer. "This room is surrounded by the on-board computer. Our flight tech knows what those lights mean, but don't ask me." He pointed at three more stations at equidistant positions around the periphery of the room. "Those are rapid fire phasor control stations, better known to us as the rfp stations. And this, "he pointed to a station next to the communications station, "is the sonic bomb control station. I've only seen it used once and that was during a mock battle on a deserted planet. One minute I was looking at a city, which could hold two million inhabitants, and the next moment it was nothing but powder. It was an awesome sight."
"Especially since there were no people in it," said Dahms bringing everybody back to the reality of war.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Xilil. The enthusiasm was gone from his voice. "Have a seat anywhere. The rest of the crew and the commander will be here soon."
Xilil sat down at his station and started playing with the knobs. Dahms couldn't tell if he was actually doing something or if he was just pretending. She and the others walked around to the other side of the table. They needed to be in a strategic position, and they didn't need a computer to figure it out. If they had to shoot Xilil, it would be better if they didn't have their backs to him.
"Damn," said Xilil in a voice of consternation. "There's something wrong with the long distance . . ."
Dahms and her rebels were still standing when Commander Mace and the crewmembers walked in. "Good morning," he said in a gruff and rather unfriendly voice. He introduced himself and the crewmembers, and then went to the head of the table and sat down. He acted as if he would rather be somewhere else, instead of here—pampering locals who didn't know anything about war.
He looked at the uniformed strangers and his crewmembers. "Well, don't just stand there. Have a seat."
Bradon, Phist, and Donn walked to the other side of the table and sat down. Bradon sat next to the Commander and Phist and Donn sat two seats to the right. Xilil was still sitting at his station with a look of perplexity. Dahms sat three seats from Mace. According to her calculations, this was the best position for what was coming. At the same time, Sam sat two seats down from Dahms, and Gaal two seats down from him, and Xygliper two seats down from Gaal. Before they left the apartment, they had practiced a number of times how they would subdue the crew and take over the ship.
Xilil, looking anxious, motioned to the Captain and after several waves finally caught his eye. "Commander, I have to talk to you."
"Not now," retorted the Captain in an irritated voice and then on second thought he added, "Unless it's an emergency." He waited for a moment while Xilil was considering the situation. "Well, is it?"
"No sir," he answered with hesitation.
"Then it can wait until we're finished with the business at hand." He looked at Dahms. "I don't understand the reason, but I was informed you would explain the layout and the internal workings of the prison." He paused looking thoughtfully discontented, then he smiled and said, "I suppose it could help if we're forced into action, but personally, if that happens, I'm going to blow the shit out of anything that moves."
All his men laughed. The way he said it, even Gaal laugh.
"Our orders, which come directly from the Galaef," continued the Commander, "are to keep watch on this prison and to thwart any attempt to free the prisoners. It seems that command headquarters received some information that a rebel group is going to storm the prison walls. And since the prisoners are mining Zen I crystals . . . Well, I'm sure he doesn't care about the prisoners, but you know how the Galaef feels about his crystals."
"Yes we do," said Dahms and now she knew it was her turn. She had decided earlier to use the direct approach.
And so it begins, she thought. "It's funny you should mention the Galaef," she began, "because even more important than the internal workings of the prison, it has been reported that the Galaef of the Galactic Empire is being held prisoner behind those walls."
Three men looked shocked, Xilil, Phist, and Donn, but two, the Commander and Bradon, had looks of consternation.
And after a second of thought the Commander quickly reached forward with his left hand and touched a switch on the control panel. Simultaneously, his right hand shot down and came up holding a phasor.
Normally, this would have been a surprise tactic, but Sam was ready for any kind of action. Before the Commander could level his phasor, a stun beam hit him full in the chest. He was slammed against the back of his chair. The magnetic rollers held to the floor, but the chair was sent reeling backwards and whirled around a couple of times before it came to rest exactly where it had started. The Commander stiffened as his muscles went into spasm. He sat against the back of his chair as stiff as a board and unable to move.
Bradon, following the actions of his Commander, also started for his phasor, but as Dahms held up her palm stunner, he subsided, and put his hands on the table in front of him.
Xilil, stood up. "The Galaef in prison? That's a little hard to believe." He didn't say anything about what Sam had just done to his Captain. He didn't even think about it. The Galaef was his Commander in Chief, his leader, and he needed to know if anything untoward was happening to him.
Before anyone could say anything. Xygliper smirked and pointed at Mace. "Hard to believe?" he asked in mimicry. "The Captain of your ship didn’t think so."
Xilil thought it over and then said, "Yeah. I see what you mean."
Xygliper pointed at the other man. "And neither did he."
Sam stood up, still holding the palm stunner face out. "Everybody, very carefully, put your phasors on the table and slide them in our direction."
"I didn't know anything about this," said Xilil.
The other three shook their heads in agreement.
Sam looked at them. "You I don't believe," he said pointing at Bradon. "The rest of you I'm inclined to believe, but we can't take any chances. So, slide 'em down."
Gaal and Xygliper removed the power packs from the phasors and put them in their pockets. Sam stepped over to the Captain, wrenched the phasor out of his hand, and removed the power pack. "Now what?" he asked Dahms.
She looked at the three crewmen. "Who knows how to fly this thing?"
"I do," said Phist. "I'm the pilot."
"Okay. You'll do the flying, but we'll be watching you."
"Look lady, a-a-a-a Dahms, if the Galaef is a prisoner behind those walls, I'm going to do everything I can to get him out."
"And I believe you, but I'm still going to be watching you, just in case I'm wrong."
Donn stood up and in an angry tone, he said, "I don't care what our Captain did. To believe the Galaef is a prisoner is beyond absurdity. Who could possibly have the power to put him there, and why would they do it?"
Xygliper was the first to answer, and he wasn't feeling kindly when he spoke. "The man who has the power is Thorne. And the reason he has made the Galaef a prisoner is because he wants to be the new ruler of the Galaxy."
For a moment everyone was silent, then Xilil said, "Damn, I wondered why they gave us a new Commander at the last moment." He paused, "and him." He pointed at Bradon. "He was also a new addition. Our crew had been together for three years and at the last minute they reassigned seven of our crew, including our Captain and put them on another destroyer, then they brought in Mace and Bradon and told us we only needed a skeleton crew for this mission."
"How many are on the other ship?"
"Five," answered Xilil.
"Okay," said Dahms, "Sam and I are going to go to the other ship . . .
"
"You can't," said Xilil in a tone of urgency.
"Why not?"
"The Commander sent an internal danger-alert signal to the other ship just before you stunned him. It alerts them that our ship has been contaminated by a hostile force."
"Oh, that’s great," said Xygliper. "Fast on the switch, but fortunately not fast enough on the phasor."
Xilil continued, "Right now they're at battle stations. All doors are locked, all hatches are closed, and they won't stand down until they get a coded signal from our Captain. In fact, right now they're preparing to fire on us and will do so if we don't give them the code within five minutes."
Everyone went silent while they considered the different alternatives. Finally, Zygliper pointed at the screen. "There's only one thing to do," he said. "Call them on the viewer and give them the same message we gave you. The Galaef is a prisoner in the prison you are guarding."
"What?" asked Xilil in an incredulous tone. "Why?"
Xygliper smirked. "That way we'll find out if the Captain is with us or against us."
"Will it work?"
"Of course it will work." He paused, and then added, "It worries me somewhat, but it'll work."
Xilil wasn't happy with his last comment. "Why does it worry you?"
"If the Commander reacts like this one did, then I'm afraid one or more of your boys might get hurt." Since it didn't seem to register he added, "You know—shot with a phasor. And if the Thorne supporters get control of that ship, it’s going to be an all out battle. So, you better be ready to pull the trigger if things don’t go the way we want them to."
Phist walked over and pushed the captain out of his chair and sat down.
Donn blurted out, "That's ridiculous. Why would the Captain fire on his own crew?"
"Because," responded Xygliper, "it appears there weren't enough money grubbing traitors to make a full complement for both of these destroyers. That means, if the captain is a traitor, he has to do anything it takes to carry out his real mission, including killing the Galaef supporters in order to remain in control of the G15."
Xilil hesitated, but only for a moment. "This whole thing seems crazy," he said, "but," he looked at the Captain who was still stiff as a board and lying on the floor, "but we joined the Galaef's armed forces knowing there could come a time when we would be going into battle. If it ever becomes necessary, then we understand it's our duty to die for the good of the Galaxy."
A sardonic smile crossed Xygliper’s lips, but he didn’t say anything.
Phist pointed at Donn. “You control the rapid fire phasors.”
Donn sat down at one of the rfp stations and pushed several buttons. “I’m ready,” he said.
"Okay," said Dahms. "Xilil, you give the message."
Xilil hurried to the front of the viewer panel. Quickly he sat down and touched the switch pad.
Dahms and the others stood out of sight of the screen, but they could hear the voice of the other Commander when he came on line. "What's going on over there?” he yelled out. “Why did you send the alert signal?" There was a nervous tone in his voice.
Xilil was looking intently into the screen. There was a look of anger and frustration on his face. “Captain," said Xilil, "I'm speaking to you and the rest of the crew members aboard your ship."
The Captain’s voice was anxious as he yelled out again. “Have foreign agents taken over your ship?”
“Captain,” said Xilil “it has been reported to us that the Galaef, ruler of the Galactic Empire and our Supreme Commander and Chief, has been made a prisoner behind the walls of the prison we are now guarding.”
The screen went blank.
"Oh crap," said Gaal. "What are we going to do if they start firing on us?"
"It's either fight or flight," replied Dahms.
Phist shook his head. "It won't be flight. It takes at least a minute to fire up the engines."
"By that time we'll be incinerated," added Donn.
"Then it's fight," said Dahms sharply. She quickly looked at Donn. "Can you take them out?"
"If we fire first," he looked hesitant as he sat with his finger on the button. "But the Captain is the only new one aboard the ship. I've personally known the other four for years. They're friends of mine, and I don't want to fire on them."
"Not even to save the Galaef?"
He thought for a moment. "You're right, of course."
"Okay, what do we do?"
But he didn't have time to answer. At that moment the communications screen between the two destroyers came back on. A crewmember's face appeared. "What the hell's going on over there? And what the hell did you say to our Captain?" He didn't wait for an answer; instead he continued with, "He went crazy. He killed Jos with his phasor, and before we could draw our own he killed Benz." The man was obviously distraught, but he became silent and waited for an answer.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told the Captain," said Xilil. "The Galaef is a prisoner behind those prison walls, and we've been sent here to make sure he doesn't escape."
"That’s not possible," said the face on the screen. “And you know it.”
"Look around you," replied Xilil. "Why would this new Captain, a military man you've never met before, do what he did? You know me, Zorn. We've known each other for years. You know I'm not lying when I tell you our new Captain reacted the same way."
"Damn," said Zorn. "Damn," he said again.
Dahms stepped in front of the screen so Zorn could see her. "That prison has five hundred guards, all carrying phasors as well as stunners. The prison walls have phasor turrets mounted all along the perimeter. "If we're going to have any chance at all of freeing the Galaef, we're going to need these destroyers."
Zorn looked into the screen, "We were sent here to keep anyone from breaking into that prison. How do we know this isn't a trick to break in and break your friends out?"
"It would be easy to think that way if your Captain hadn't gone crazy—wouldn't it?"
Zorn scowled as he thought. "Okay, so now what?"
Brale, a crewmember on the other ship, stuck his head in front of the screen. "You won't be using this destroyer," he said. "One of the phasor bolts went through the computer and took out the electronics controlling the drive motor."
Xilil looked at Dahms. "Looks like we're down to one destroyer." He turned back to the screen. "Okay. You might as well shut it down and join us over here."
"Right," said Zorn. The screen flicked off.
"Wait," said Dahms. "I still don't know who I can trust." She looked at Xilil and then Sam.
Sam shrugged his shoulders. "In my opinion, they've already earned our trust."
"I suppose your right. It's just that it's so critical that we free the Galaef."
"And Viella," added Sam. "But there comes a time when you have to trust someone. And these men know how to operate this destroyer, and we don't."
"Okay." She made up her mind. "Take the Captain, and that one," she pointed at Bradon, "down to the sleeping quarters and secure them with magnetic wrist and ankle locks."
"That won't be necessary," said Xilil. "We have a brig on board. And it'll keep these two traitors from going anywhere."
Chapter Fifty-Five