CHAPTER SIX

“Raise shields, charge starbursts and ruialon emitters,” ordered John as PHOENIX arrived at their destination.

“Shields have been raised,” reported Jacks. “Ruialon emitters are on standby. Starburst will be ready when we reach our target.”

Starbursts were modified n’quadrin energy bursts designed to deplete a target’s shields and energy reserves. But the modifications to achieve this made the n’quadrin inefficient. It took a substantial amount of energy to create a starburst. As a result, PHOENIX could only fire a couple of them in battle before recharging the ports, which could take over five minutes.

The ruialon beam weapons were of Quix origin. After a couple of months of research, the Ni was able to successfully create converters that could process n’quadrin into ruialon energy.

“I’m getting a reading on our target,” announced Tim. “It’s a Screen outpost, similar in design to the one we encountered two years ago.”

“Any indication that they’ve spotted us?” asked Julie.

Tim checked the sensors. Suddenly, the display became distorted for a moment. He fiddled with the resolution to fix it.

“Problems?” asked John.

“The sensors winked out for a second,” replied the lieutenant. “There, got it now. I’m not picking up any transmissions but I do show Screen fighters launching.”

“Captain, we only have five fighter drones available to launch,” advised Jacks.

“We don’t need the drones,” replied John. “As soon as we’re in range, fire a starburst at the outpost. Take out the fighters with the particle beams.”

Julie brought the targeting scanners online. “Ready, captain.”

“We’re in range of the outpost,” reported Tim.

“Fire,” ordered John.

PHOENIX fired its starburst at the outpost while particle beams fired on the fighters. The Screen fighters, adept in the past at avoiding the beams, were each hit and obliterated by the first shots. The targeting scanners were being handled by Vish, who could anticipate their quick course changes in a nanosecond.

“Fighters have been destroyed,” reported Tim. “Starburst has struck target and is draining the outpost’s shields.”

“Their weapons are already offline,” added Julie. “Their shields are down twenty percent and should collapse in three minutes.”

Julie assumed they would wait for the shields to go down before launching an assault shuttle to take over the facility. She was surprised when John suddenly took over weapons control from her. He targeted the outpost and fired all the ruialon emitters at once. The intense red lights streamed from PHOENIX and struck the outpost. The barrage collapsed the outpost’s already weakened shields and obliterated the entire facility.

“Structure’s been destroyed,” reported Tim. “I’m showing no survivors.”

Julie was in utter disbelief by John’s actions. They accomplished nothing by destroying the Screen. They needed prisoners to question to learn the location of the Screen homeworld and what motivated them to be hostile towards other races. With the outpost destroyed and the Screen in it killed, they were no closer in learning more about their enemy.

Julie was ready to question John’s actions but held her tongue. She needed to talk to him in private, away from the command staff. It was tough not saying anything right at that moment. Everything in Julie was telling her this was wrong. The captain was not behaving properly. She tempered the urge to say anything by reminding herself she needed to be loyal to him.

Suddenly, the operations table beeped on Jacks’ side. “John Roberts, energy grid Beta 47 has ruptured on deck twenty-two. We are venting n’quadrin in that area.”

“Seal off that grid section from the rest of the network,” as Julie forgot about John’s actions for the moment.

“I have isolated the grid,” replied Jacks. “N’quadrin is no longer venting and the remaining energy have been absorbed by the maintenance bots already at the scene. I am reading structural damage to the area. Twelve human life signs are at the location.”

“Deploy damage control teams and alert medical,” ordered Julie as she looked over to John. The captain was reviewing tactical data. He seemed completely unconcerned about the damage to the ship.

********

Down in the damaged section of deck twenty-two, the ship’s only Gercol and an Onixin arrived at the scene first, ahead of the medical and damage control teams. The Onixin pressed his wrist and brought up his holographic DAT.

“There are twelve humans trapped within the debris. The area is shifting and unstable,” as his DAT scanned the area.

“I can stabilize the area.” The green alien blob shot himself into the debris and spread himself out, holding the twisted metal and rubble in place. As he settled himself in, the medical team showed up, headed by Doctor Roth.

“What’s the situation?” Roth asked the Onixin.

“Twelve of your people are trapped behind the debris. Vun is using his body to prevent the debris from shifting.”

“Vun, how long can you hold things in place?” asked Roth.

The Gercol responded confidently. “I can remain in place as long as you need me to.”

“There’s a passage we can use to reach them,” said Nurse Plate, referring to her DAT that found a small pathway in the debris.

Roth checked the readings on the nurse’s DAT. “It’s too small for any of us to crawl through.”

“I can navigate the passage.” Roth looked down and had forgotten about the Senfo doctor with them.

“Ranis, are you sure?” Roth asked him.

Ranis nodded as the damage control team arrived. Suddenly, they heard a loud sound from above and looked to see a support beam break loose and fall. A Quix damage control member stretched his arm and precisely controlled sound waves shot from his hand. The pulse struck the support beam and the impact knocked it to the side and out of harm’s way.

Everyone was impressed by the Quix’s display. “I didn’t know your people could do that,” said Roth.

“We have the ability to generate sound waves at various levels,” replied the slug-like alien.

“Nice,” as Roth refocused back on the task at hand. She motioned to Ranis, who proceeded through the tight passage as the Gercol kept the rubble from moving around. It took some time, but eventually they were able to treat and evacuate the victims.

********

A few hours later, PHOENIX was holding position near the planetoid as repairs to the damaged section were being done. John was in his office reading some files when the door chime rang.

“Come in.” Julie entered with her holographic DAT active. “What’s our status, commander?”

“Repairs to the ruptured grid is proceeding,” replied Julie. “They have to replace most of the support beams. They’ve rerouted power and it shouldn’t affect ship operations.”

“Have they determined why it ruptured?”

“Apparently, the grid had insufficient trillium casing and ruptured when the power flow increased.”

John shook his head in disappointment. “I thought the Ni were highly advanced.”

“They are but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect,” reminded Julie. “Even they said this was the fastest they ever fabricated new systems for a starship. There’s bound to be a few glitches.”

“Have engineering recheck the n’quadrin network. I want to be sure the rest of the grid is intact.”

“Yes sir.”

John looked up at Julie. “Anything else, commander?”

Julie wanted to ask him why he destroyed the outpost rather than take prisoners but she got cold feet. In the back of her mind, she didn’t want to know the answer. She didn’t want to hear that he did it as an act of revenge.

Suddenly, the battle alarms blared. “Captain and commander to the bridge,” came the voice of Jacks over their pips. The pair headed out of John’s office and down to the pit. Thresha was there, having come to check on how the alien command deck staff were doing and to see if John was doing alright.

“What do we got?” asked Julie.

“A Screen cruiser just arrived and is approaching our position,” reported Tim.

“I thought you said the outpost didn’t send out any transmissions?” said Julie.

“They didn’t,” as Tim rechecked the sensor logs. “They never sent out a distress call.”

“I can confirm that,” said Bret from his station. “We never picked up any transmissions from the outpost or fighters.”

“Perhaps they were scheduled to drop supplies or do a personnel swap,” speculated John in a calm voice. “Raise shields and power ruialon weapons.”

“Captain!” Julie blurted out. “We have a chance to capture prisoners.”

John gave her a quick look of anger. It’s what Julie saw out of the corner of her eye that got her attention. She caught a glance at Thresha, who looked scared of John. She never saw the Aldarian leader ever look afraid.

“Fine, load a compliment of plasma torpedoes and prepare another starburst,” ordered John.

Julie was relieved that he chose a course of action that tactically made sense. She turned to her display at the operations table and focused on the battle. “Starburst is primed and ready.”

“Screen vessel has powered their weapons,” reported Tim.

“Fire starburst and follow up with a spread of plasma torpedoes,” ordered John.

Julie entered the firing commands and they watched on the holographic display as the starburst struck the cruiser dead on, followed up by a compliment of five plasma torpedoes. The cruiser shook and lost control. Soon it was floating aimlessly in space.

“Their engines have been disabled and their shields have collapsed,” reported Tim. “No ruptures to their hull.”

“Fire thrusters and move us above the cruiser,” instructed Julie. The cruiser was still moving towards them and she wanted to avoid a collision. Kevin and Jufo worked together and moved the PHOENIX over the Screen cruiser.

“Notify assault teams one and four to standby for launch,” ordered John.

“Hangar bay has already reported both teams are in their shuttles,” replied Jacks.

Despite its power being drained, the cruiser managed to fire off a few shots at PHOENIX. The weaken shots were easily absorbed by the starship’s shields.

John was frustrated the enemy ship wasn’t completely disarmed. “Disable their weapons.”

“The starburst effect should render their weapons useless,” said Julie.

John shot her a nasty look. “I said destroy their weapons.”

A lump developed in her throat. She looked away from him. “Uh, particle beams should be sufficient.”

“Then do it,” ordered John. Julie fired off a few shots at the cruiser.

“Sensors confirm Screen weapons have been destroyed,” announced Tim.

“I am reading power fluctuations in the energy network of the cruiser,” reported Korifluxinina.

“Are they trying to self-destruct the ship?” asked Bret from his station.

The Quix shook her head. “The fluctuations are due to the starburst. Their systems cannot initiate self-destruct.”

John didn’t want to waste any time, “Tell the hangar bay to launch assault shuttles immediately.”

Moments later, human and Ni assault shuttles exited the hangar and flew to opposite sides of the cruiser. They attached to the hull and bore through a section of it. Without missing a beat, the assault teams, one led by Chief Davers, boarded the cruiser.

“I’m reading weapons fire,” reported Tim. “However, very little of its coming from the Screen.”

Ten minutes elapsed before they got a call from the teams. “Davers to PHOENIX.”

“Go ahead,” said John.

“We’ve secured the ship. The Screen put up very little resistance before committing suicide.”

“Damn it,” muttered Julie. It was another missed opportunity.

“However, we managed to subdue three Screen soldiers. They’re alive and we’ve disabled their suit functions.”

John’s eyes lit up. “Have team two return with the prisoners immediately. I’ll meet them in the brig.” He promptly headed out of the pit. “Commander, you have the deck.”

“Uh…” Julie was taken aback the way John just left. “Chief Davers, secure the cruiser. I’d like to get a team over there to hack their systems as soon as possible.”

“Understood. Davers out.” With that done, Julie went over to Thresha and whispered to her so no one could overhear them. “What is it? What did you sense from the captain?”

“It was something I never thought to witness,” said the Aldarian leader. “What I felt was not the John Roberts I have come to known.”

“Thresha,” pressed Julie. “Please.”

“I sensed immense hatred.”

“Towards the Screen.” It made sense to Julie. John held the Screen responsible for their friends’ deaths.

“No, towards you and Jacks.”

Julie was stunned by Thresha’s words. Why was he feeling hostility towards her? Towards Jacks? It didn’t make any sense.

“He is lost,” continued Thresha. “If he does not reach out to us, I fear we will lose him.”

********

Down in the brig, John shot out instructions to the assault teams. He had them strip the Screen prisoners from their armor suits. Two were placed in separate cells while one was strapped down to a table. John watched the Screen intently, hoping to see any sign of fear in them.

“You can go,” John said to his officers. “Let Commander Olson know I’ll be interrogating the Screen and am not to be disturbed.”

The captain watched his people leave. When the door closed he turned to the prisoner lying on the table. “Vish, lock the brig door, captain priority one authorization. And shut down all surveillance equipment.”

“The door has been locked,” replied Vish. “All monitoring systems in the brig have been placed offline.”

John casually walked over to the table and retrieved a case from underneath. “I’m Captain John Roberts, the commander of this ship. Bet you’re surprised to see the PHOENIX. I’m sure you thought you had gotten rid of us. Well, we don’t give up easily. Our ship is repaired and we’re stronger.”

None of the Screen said anything. The one on the table looked at John with hatred. John could see it in his yellow eyes.

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand,” as John looked at the small case laying on the table before him. He went to open the case and found his hand was shaking. He was surprised. He rubbed his hands together and opened the case, reminding himself he needed to focus.

“We’ve been examining the body of one of your friends for months. It’s told us a lot about you. For instance, I know about the implant in your head,” as he tapped the Screen’s head. “The one that blocks micron functions. You can understand us but we can’t understand you.”

John looked through the array of surgical tools that were in the open case and selected the laser scalpel. “I’m not interested in anything you have to say.” He closed the case and moved it aside. He pointed the scalpel at the Screen’s knee, ready to fire it. He hesitated. He thought about Alex’sis for a moment, remembering all those nights they spent in each other’s arms. John missed that comfort and wanted so much to have her back. She told him more than once that he was a gentle soul. Would she say that now if she saw what he was planning to do?

Suddenly, the Screen on the table grabbed John’s arm. Its claws tore his flesh as John pulled himself free. All conscious thought left his mind as the blood and pain threw him into a rage. He activated the scalpel and the laser bore through the Screen’s knee. John ran an incision down the prisoner’s leg as the Screen cried out in pain. The other two screamed that familiar screeching sound and rattled the cell bars. Their cries were music to John’s ears.

He turned and looked at the pair in the cells. “I want you to see what I do to him because I’m going to do the same to you. You’re all going to die. I can assure you it will be a very painful experience. You will welcome death.”

John turned back to the Screen on the table. “Your species has much to fear because I intend to do this to every Screen I encounter. I’ve been studying Screen physiology for months. I know where you’re most sensitive nerves are. For instance, the nerve I’ve exposed on your lower leg.” John fired the scalpel again and the Screen screamed out in pain once more.