Chapter Fifty–One

Sorgan’s Revenge

The Malchian Battle Cruiser was returned to full strength and in pursuit of an Alpha Battle Cruiser. Sorgan was pleased. His ship was repaired and, critical information had been relayed to the Queen’s ship. He now enacted revenge against The Pantheon, one of the original vessels, he attacked just after they set out to find the Alpha fleet. He would return home triumphant after all and to his Queen.

* * * *

The Pantheon continued her long journey home. Wesley Smith monitored the ships analytics constantly; the ship was intact but only just. At their current velocity, it would take nearly six months to get home, but no one was in any hurry. The objective was simply to get every one of the remaining three-hundred and fifty crew home to their families. Then and only then could he relax. No one knew what awaited them when they reached Earth. It was likely the Kryl were still there and, they could conceivably attack his ship once again, but what choice did he have?

“Commander, we have detected the anomaly again. It’s closer this time. Just one hundred thousand kilometers. It is possible; it could be a scanning mechanism.”

“Okay; thanks, Philip. Given our current status, I think we have to be careful. Raise shields to maximum and take us to condition yellow. I will join you on the bridge shortly.”

Philip Higgins has actually taken to his new role well, over the last month. He is respected and instinctively monitoring the correct schematics. It was good to have someone he could trust again.

* * * *

“What is our velocity?”

“SD 1.6 holding steady.”

“And the anomaly?”

“Still there. Closing to within Eighty-five thousand clicks. We could consider a sweep at this range.”

“Not yet. The data would be unreliable. Let’s hold steady for now. It could be nothing.”

Smith doubted his own words, but there was little point in creating panic—not just yet. He had that awful feeling…that they had been here before.

* * * *

It was too easy. The Malchian cruiser’s new galaxy wide scanning portal could locate high velocity objects, light years away and now with its enhanced capabilities, it could even pinpoint and identify specific craft. The Pantheon had travelled along a natural space corridor spanning just half a light year across. The Malchian cruiser was using the same path and quickly located and identified the Alpha Battle cruiser. Now within fifty thousand kilometers, Sorgan had the option to attack with long range weapon strategies…but he wanted his target to see them.

“Increase velocity to close the gap, establish a link and draw us in.”

They would lock on to the Pantheon and pull her towards them. Then they would destroy her.

The link was established just a few minutes later. Now less than a kilometer apart; it was time to show the Pantheon commander, that the running was over.

“Drop cloaking and bring us around to face them. Let’s look them straight in the eye.”

* * * *

“They have a lock on us, sir. They are pulling us in.”

“Full reverse…get us to a good distance. Go to battle stations. Charge PBA.”

In the end, it was no surprise to Wesley Smith when the Malchian cruiser had shown itself. It was certainly alarming; but there was calm on the ships bridge. They had been here before and now, what choice did they have?

“We have pulled back to one thousand meters. We cannot hold this position for long, sir.”

“Launch all Jump Ships; target the link mechanism between us. Discharge all main weaponry at will. Number One, let me know when the PBA is charged.”

The Pantheon went on the offensive, pummeling the Malchian cruisers shields, but with only partial success. As the Jump Ships launched, they were met with resistance immediately, outnumbered, outgunned and out maneuvered by the Malchian Arrows. The Malchian cruiser was bombarding the Pantheon with a huge swathe of plasma discharge, targeting the stellar drive, main weapons bank and the ships main weakness, the weakened substitute bulkheads. The shields held initially, but the shear power of the larger Kryl cruiser began to tell against the comparatively small and ineffective Pantheon fire power. The shields began to fail.

“What’s the PBA status?”

“Eighty percent, sir. We could fire now, but we are too close. We need to divert more power to get us further away.”

“Do it. Number one, we need our best weapon available to us. How many Teutonic’s do we have left?”

“Engaging reverse thrust now. We cannot get further away! Teutonic’s, er…thirteen left…er only two launch pods left intact. The torpedoes are in the wrong place, we cannot fire from them!”

“Bring the PBA on-line and target the Kryl cruisers main drive. We need that off-line, so at least then we can affect an escape.”

Seconds later the PBA fired. The Pantheon’s main offensive weapon failed to gain sufficient impetus to damage the Malchian cruiser, because it was just too close. The Alpha cruisers shields began to fall in quick succession.”

“Compensate with those shields. Recharge PBA. We are free from their tractor link. Turn about and get some distance between us.”

The destruction of the tractor link mechanism allowed the Pantheon to break free and gave them vital seconds to extend the gap between them and the Malchian cruiser. Wesley Smith took the opportunity to take stock of the situation. Shields were residual only, there were no available Teutonic’s, half the plasma cannons had been blown away, and only a few Rapiers remained. In less than ten minutes, the Pantheon’s resistance had been removed. She was target practice, waiting for the final charge to finish her and her crew off once and for all.

Smith looked around his bridge. At least his command center was still intact and operational. They all did their jobs well, even if the strain was beginning to tell. If he let this continue, they would all be dead within a few minutes more.

He sighed and paused briefly before reaching down to his command station. He opened a comm.link directly, paused again, and then spoke.

“Kryl commander…we wish to discuss terms of surrender. Please respond.”

There was silence on the bridge and the battle rumbled on for few moments before the reply came.

“Pantheon Commander. Stand down your weapons and shields. Prepare to be boarded.”

Smith acknowledged and closed the link. He remained passive and gave his orders quietly and precisely.

“Take the weapons banks offline and recall the Jump Ships. Hold the shields on until the last Jump Ship is back inside.” He opened an in internal ship-wide comm.link before he spoke again.”Gentlemen, Ladies, It has been a pleasure. I don’t know what will happen now for certain, but please prepare to be boarded and accord the Kryl respect.”

He no longer cared whether he was following protocol. He and his crew had suffered enough.

Five minutes later, with the Malchian cruiser now alongside and dwarfing the Battle Cruiser Pantheon, an umbilical connection was made and the two ships joined. A squad of six Malchian guards entered and were escorted to the bridge.

“Commander Smith. Please come with us.”

Wesley Smith shrugged his shoulders.”Of course…Number One, you have the con. Please maintain status. I am sure I will return soon and then presumably we will return to Earth under company of the Malchians. I am sure this is all standard procedure.”

The CO was escorted to the umbilical join and onto the Kryl ship and from there he was taken the short distance to the Malchian commander’s Sanctuary. Sorgan was there to greet him.

“Welcome to my ship Commander Smith. I am Sorgan, the leader of the Queen’s Malchians. I don’t believe we have met before, other than in combat.”

“What will you do with us?”

“A good question, Commander. Let’s just say that I rarely get the opportunity to destroy a ship twice. Usually once is sufficient. Your ship has undergone significant repairs. Where were you heading?”

“Back to Earth. Our repairs were temporary and the ship was weakened. We were ready to take what punishment the Kryl governor would have applied to us.”

“What do you think he should do now? You have attacked us twice now, Commander.”

“You attacked us the first time…I don’t know. I would imagine the ship will be mothballed and we would be demobbed.”

“Without punishment. Your ship is responsible for the deaths of many of my crew. There is no need to wait to see what punishment will be dealt out by the Kronan. We can deal with that here.”

Sorgan turned away and whispered to one of the guards, who left without replying.

“I have ordered the Pantheon set adrift without you, commander. I am taking you as my prize for the Queen. She will be grateful for the opportunity to meet a ranking officer—even if you are a defeated ranking officer.”

Smith was anxious. Why would they set her adrift?

Sorgan smiled. “Your thoughts are very transparent. I am setting her adrift to mete out punishment.”

The Malchian turned away again and spoke to another guard, before returning his gaze to Wesley Smith.

“I think you will soon find out. A large polymer holographic display appeared in front of them. The Pantheon was drifting some distance to port.

Seconds later a huge blast of concentrated plasma weapons were discharged. The unshielded Alpha battle cruiser was defenseless. The plasma burst hit the stricken cruiser amidships, shattering the temporary bulkheads. The Pantheon split into two flaming hulks as a huge explosion engulfed her. Within a few moments it was all over. The Pantheon and its crew were gone.

Wesley Smith stood with his mouth agape. He could not believe what he witnessed. His ship, his crew were gone. He found himself speechless and then, suddenly enraged, he leapt at Sorgan.

Sorgan raised his right arm and forced Smith to the floor, with one swiping lunge against the human’s upper back. His strength was unbelievable. Now everything was hazy. He wanted to get up, but was unable. He passed out briefly. When he was able to open his eyes, Sorgan stood above him.

“Punishment has now been enacted, Commander. Your ship and all your crew are dead and you have survived only because you are my prize. Your ships feeble attempt to challenge me and your own for that matter, have failed. I have my revenge and now we can return to my Queen triumphant, confident and armed with the knowledge that will stop Alpha’s pathetic attempt to defeat us. Take him away and store him. Keep him alive…but barely.”