CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“Engines back online,” reported Jacks.

Finally. It seemed like an eternity to get the engines working again. “Set a course for the Screen homeworld and initiate jump,” ordered John. He was anxious to get going.

“Captain, we only have short range sensors,” advised Jufo. “We will be limited to a speed of factor two.”

“Understood, proceed,” said John. He looked over at Korifluxinina. “Please tell me you and the scientists have come up with something to counter the Io’s weapons.”

Korifluxinina brought up a data file. “We conducted a detailed analysis of the Io energy blast. Unfortunately, we were unable to formulate an appropriate countermeasure. If the Io do attack us, they will disable the PHOENIX.”

It wasn’t what John wanted to hear, but Tim had an alternative. “Captain, we could use the fighter bots and ram them into their ship.”

“Crude, but it may work,” agreed Julie. A kamikaze run seemed like their best option at the moment.

“We’ll have to go with it,” said John. The Io was almost as big as PHOENIX. Somehow, John didn’t think that a bunch of fighter bots would do much damage ramming the enemy ship.

********

A few hours later, PHOENIX arrived at the Screen star system.

“Shields are up, but only at twenty-two percent,” reported Jacks.

“Bring our weapons online,” ordered John.

“What weapons?” replied Jacks.

John didn’t expect to hear that. “We don’t have anything?”

“Last estimate was another seventy-two minutes to bring ruialon weapons online,” reported Jacks. “Starburst, torpedo tubes, and the other beam weapons are still offline.”

Great, so they were stuck relying on the fighter bots. “Do we know the state of the Screen homeworld?” asked John.

“Not at this time,” replied Korifluxinina. “The asteroid field is interfering with our limited sensor capability.”

“There’s an opening in the asteroid field,” said Tim.

“Plot a course through it and take us in,” John said nervously. He hoped they weren’t going into a trap.

“All hands to battle stations,” announced Julie.

PHOENIX maneuvered through the asteroid field. Luckily, the alliance occupation force now controlled the Screen gravimetric emitters and established a path for their ships. It was easy for the mammoth human starship to pass through to the interior.

As soon as PHOENIX emerged to the inner part of the system, it headed straight to the Screen homeworld. The senior staff could already see from the sensor readings they were too late.

The alliance occupation fleet was decimated. Ships were either destroyed or floating aimlessly at low power. The remaining Screen ships had also been destroyed, along with all their shipyards.

John could barely churn out the words. “Stat….status of alliance fleet?” He looked over to Julie, who just shook her head.

But it was the readings on the planet that disturbed the command deck officers. Every major city had been reduced to rubble. Try as they might, they could not pick up a single Screen life sign.

“Can you pick up any survivors?” John asked Tim.

“Sorry, sir, but the sensors can’t pick up anything,” replied Tim. “I’ll keep retuning the sensors to see if that works.”

“Serves them right,” muttered Jufo.

John spun around and gave the Senfo navigation officer a stern look. “That’s enough.” Jufo looked around, but no one seemed willing to echo his sentiment.

Despite everything the Screen had done, John couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. An entire race shouldn’t have to suffer for the actions of their leaders. As he looked at the holographic images of the destroyed fleet, a lump developed in his throat. He realized that the Io were a far greater threat than the Screen could ever be.

“John Roberts,” said Korifluxinina. “I am picking up the Io ship on the far side of the planet. The vessel is heading out of the system.”

“Hail them,” ordered John.

Bret sent the communications request. “We’re getting a response, captain.”

“Human starship PHOENIX,” came the sound of the same distorted electronic voice.

“You abducted two of my crew members,” started John, referring to Betty and her child. “We demand you return them to us and any other innocent aliens you kidnapped.”

“Your request is denied,” replied the voice. “You cannot dictate terms to us. Your vessel is without weapons and your defensive systems are inadequate.”

John clenched his fists, upset that the Io knew PHOENIX was at a disadvantage.

“You are fortunate to receive mercy from the Io. We will reclaim this area of space as our own and subjugate the species that have infected our territory, but not neufer. We will leave for distant parts to prepare ourselves. We return to reclaim this area that is rightfully ours. Tell the species you represent that the Io will return.”

“They’ve cut the transmission,” reported Bret. John watched on the operations table display as the Io ship left the star system. There’s was nothing they could do. PHOENIX was no match for the Io. John couldn’t help but wonder whether he would be around when they returned. A part of him hoped he would never encounter them again.

Korifluxinina spoke up. “Captain, I am detecting multiple life signs on the disabled alliance ships.”

That was a bit of good news. “They didn’t take them,” said Julie. “They must have been only interested in the Screen.”

“Begin rescue operations,” ordered John. “Let’s see how many of our friends we can save.”

********

PHOENIX spent the next two days rendering aid to the defeated alliance occupation force. They also scoured the Screen homeworld for any survivors. It was an arduous process coordinating the rescue efforts. Activity on the planet was pretty much confirming what several scans already revealed, that the Screen were wiped out. When they did all they could do in the relief efforts, PHOENIX headed back to the solar system.

John was in his office reading reports. He was trying to find some good with recent events. They had enjoyed a huge victory defeating the Screen. To go from that celebration to a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Io was tough to swallow. The captain felt responsible for their failure here. Maybe if he hadn’t left that shuttle behind the Io would still be trapped on that planet. It was amazing how that one simple oversight caused so much destruction.

“Command deck to Roberts. Incoming message from Admiral Vespia.”

“Put it through,” replied John. An image of Vespia appeared on his desk monitor. “Admiral.”

“Captain Roberts, I just finished going over your report,” started Vespia. “You weren’t able to locate any Screen survivors?”

“We went through the planet thoroughly and didn’t find anyone alive, only bodies,” confirmed John. “It appears the Io didn’t kidnap any of the Screen, they just killed them all.” John felt that death was far more preferable than living as an Io. At least he had that solace for the Screen.

“So the leaders we have in custody is all that remains of the Screen,” remarked Vespia. “Somehow, I don’t think the loss of this race will be mourned by anyone.”

“Probably not, admiral,” agreed John. He felt no jubilation in the extinction of the Screen. Maybe he should be happy. After all, they were responsible for so many deaths. But the captain felt no such satisfaction.

“The Quix are reporting their long range satellites tracking the Io vessel. It’s heading out into deep space,” said Vespia. “It looks like, for now, the Io will be a matter to deal with at another time.”

“I’d like to think they may never return,” hoped John. “But somehow I think they’ll keep their promise.”

“They may,” said Vespia. “All we can do is prepare as best we can so we have a fighting chance when they do return. The alliance leaders wanted me to convey to you their gratitude for saving the survivors. They’ll be sending ships to the solar system to transport the ones on PHOENIX back to their homes.”

John nodded. “It’s the one good thing that’s come out of all of this.”

“I haven’t known you very long, captain. But I can see something’s bothering you.”

“It’s because of me the Io were able to escape their planet,” started John. “If I hadn’t left that shuttle…”

“Hold on, captain,” interrupted Vespia. “I’ve read the logs of your time on that planet. You started something that was inevitable. If you hadn’t left that shuttle, another race would have come across the Io. You can’t keep a storm like that contained indefinitely. And, as much as you may not like to hear this, you were a cadet. Did you really think you weren’t going to make mistakes out there?”

As distasteful as it was for John to admit, the admiral was right. But it seemed she was trying to make him feel better. “Point taken, admiral.”

“Good, then we can resign ourselves that our scientists will come up with sufficient defenses the next time we encounter the Io,” said Vespia. “I’ll provide a full briefing to the council. When you get back, you won’t have to worry about giving your report to them.”

“Thank you, admiral.”

“Safe journey, captain. Vespia out.”