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Rick was jarred out of his thoughts when the science officer said, “Sir, we have three jump windows forming off the port bow.”
At first Rick didn’t think anything about it. But Jennings changed his mind with the next question. “Who would know we are out here. Is it the planetary security?”
“No Sir, the windows are much too large. If I had to guess I say they are heavy cruisers.”
“Red alert! Shields up, bring the weapons online.”
As the shields surrounded the ship three heavy cruisers came out of the jump windows.
“Is the shuttle onboard?” said Jennings in a calm voice.
“Yes Sir.”
“Jump!”
The tension was high as Rick watched the window begin to form. With shock he saw a shot come from one of the incoming ships aimed at the jump window. The small explosion dissipated the energy and caused the window to collapse, cutting off their only means of escape.
“Sir, we are getting a message from the lead ship,” said a young woman that Rick could only guess was the comms officer.
“Have we identified those ships?” said Jennings to his first officer.
“Yes Sir, they’re from Rossom.”
“Well I guess we better see what they want. Put them on the screen.”
The face that came on the screen surprised Rick. However Jennings didn’t seem surprised at all. “Captain Toupalev. It’s good to see you again. What can I do for you?”
“Captain Jennings, it’s good to see you too.” Toupalev was smiling and to Rick it all seemed too polite. “As for what you can do for me, I’m on an extradition mission. Steve Collier is wanted in the Rossom corporation for a number of crimes that range from theft to murder. I’m here to make sure he gets back to Rossom.”
“Well good luck. I hope you find him. Our mission here has been a bust.”
“Don’t be insulting. I know you have him. He was in the shuttle that docked as we were arriving. So let’s not play games.”
“Alright, let’s not play games,” said Jennings in a cold manner. “No you can’t have him. He is wanted in my corporation for a list of crimes like yours. As he is a citizen of the Wilson Corporation the Conglomeration treaty recognizes our prior claim.”
“Captain please. You are out gunned. I’ll give you ten minutes. Hand him over or we will come in and take him from you. Think of your crew Captain.” With that the screen went blank.
“I do believe that man means to board us.” Jennings seemed remarkable calm in the face of danger.
Rick was ready to jump out of his skin with fear. “We can’t let him have Collier.”
“No we are not. Director if you want to get out of this alive I suggest you stand back and let me give orders to my crew.”
Rick stood back and gave a gesture that Jennings should proceed.
Jennings looked over at is first officer, “Jake you remember the battle of Talan.”
“Yes Sir,” there was a smile on Jake’s face. Rick knew that Jennings had something up his sleeve. “Get the jump engines charged up and ready. Reroute all available power to the shields maximum heat dissipation. All hands battle stations. Strap yourselves in this is going to be a rough ride.” Jake turned to Jennings, “What do you want me to do with him?” Pointing at Rick.
“Strap him to the weapons locker. I want him to see this.”
“What about me?” said Bannic. With everything going on Rick had forgotten about him.
“Jake get him strapped down in my office. I don’t want anyone floating free.”
One of the crew grabbed Rick and lead him to the weapons locker. The door had straps securing it shut. There were three sets of straps. One was tightened around Rick’s chest one around his waist and the last around his legs. “It’s hard to breath.”
The crewman said, “I know sir and I’m sorry for that. In just a moment you are going to be glad they are tight.” He ran back to his station and strapped himself in.
“All Stations report green?” said Jennings.
“All stations and departments report ready for the maneuver.”
“Begin.”
Jake smiled and said, “Yes Sir. Bow down ninety degrees. Engines to full. Emergency thrusters to maximum. Spin up the jump drive.”
Rick watched the main view screen and saw what was happening. Jennings was taking the ship into the atmosphere. “Reverse view.”
The screen now showed the view from the back of the ship. It seemed that the Rossom ships were taken totally off guard.
As they entered the atmosphere The Rossom ships started targeting the escaping ship. Destroyers like Jennings ship were never meant to be in the atmosphere. All Rick could think of was that this ship heading for the ground. But the Rossom ships didn’t seem to be following.
Rick could see the flames from the friction obstructing the view. He could feel the gravity from two directions. From the planet pulling him to the side, and the artificial gravity from the ship trying to hold him to the deck. Now Rick could understand why everyone had to be strapped in.
The ship shook so hard it seemed like it was about to fall apart.
Then Rick heard Jennings yell “JUMP!!!”
The shaking continued for what seemed like an eternity Then everything was still. The main view screen showed a jump window winking out.
“Navigation, where are we?” said Jennings as he unbuckled his strap and stood.
“Just outside the Holbert system.”
“We aren’t home yet. I want a full damage report from all stations.” Jennings walked over to unstrap Rick. “Sorry about that. I didn’t have time to explain what we were about to do.”
Rick was still shaken from the ride. “What did you do?”
“Well I call it a dead drop maneuver. In short we headed into the atmosphere open a jump window and fell through it.”
“That was some risk you took.”
“Well, it was that or fight and I have orders not to fire on Rossom ships. Yes it was a risk. Doing that had two problems. One, passing through the window before it is formed. You end up crashing on the planet if you do that.”
“And what is the other problem?”
Jennings smiled, “The heat energy throws off the exit window. We have no way of knowing where we will end up. It could be in a star or a planet.”
Rick was stunned at the information he just received. “Why did you take such a risk?”
As Rick asked the question someone came up and handed Jennings a data pad. He looked at it and said, “We’ll talk about that later.” Rick got the impression that he really didn’t want to talk about it in front of his crew. “Why don’t you go have a talk with Collier while I get my ship ready to jump home.”
“Yeah, and where would that be?” said Rick.
Jennings never lifted his eyes off the data pad. Rick could only guess that it was the damage report he asked for. The ship must be in worse shape than Rick thought. Still, he had to congratulate Jennings on his ingenuity. “Shery, would you escort Director Thompson down to the brig.”
“Yes Sir,” this was the young woman that Rick thought was the comms officer. Well, it made sense as they were out in the middle of nowhere there was no one to talk to.
Rick turned and saw a cute little redhead. “If you would follow me Sir,” she said with a smile.
Rick didn’t know if it was his new position or not, but it seemed like every woman he met seemed to be flirting with him. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part.
He followed her as they went down several levels into the ship. “This is the brig, Sir,” said Shery as she opened the hatch. Rick went inside and security were standing by the cell that had Collier in it. “Can you please move him to an interrogation room?”
“I’ll have to get permission from the captain,” said the young man.
He was following military protocol. Rick couldn’t blame him for that, but these were not ordinary circumstances. “First off son, I wouldn’t do that If I were you. The Captain is busy with damage control. I’m Director Thompson. That is my prisoner. And I’m asking nicely one last time to move the prisoner to an interrogation room, please.”
The security officer stood there petrified with fear. He didn’t know what to do. Rick realized that he had put him in an impossible position.
“Let me make this easy for you,” said Rick. He walked over to the intercom. “Brig to command deck.”
“Command deck.” This sounded like the first officer.
“We need permission to move the prisoner into and interrogation room.”
Jennings voice came over the intercom. “Is that you Director?”
“Yes it is. We have a young man down here that is doing his job. And doing it very well I might add. He needs your authorization to move the prisoner.”
“Is he there with you?”
“Yes Sir,” said the young man.
“Good. McCoy you are to render any assistance the Director needs. You are to follow whatever orders he gives you, like it was coming from me. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Command deck out.”
“Sorry about that,” said Rick. “Now would you please move the prisoner.”
“Yes Sir.”
Rick didn’t know how much trouble he had just caused the young man, but he did what he was supposed to do. And for that Rick couldn’t fault him. He was hoping that Jennings would feel the same way. He watched McCoy on the monitor put Collier into the interrogation room.
As soon as McCoy came back Rick asked, “Is the prisoner secured?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good, thank you for your help,” said Rick and left. He stepped into the interrogation room. Collier had his head down on the table. Once he realized that someone had come in he lifted his head. His eyes grew in surprise. “Rick! Man am I glad to see you.”
Rick paused a moment and sat down before speaking. “Why are you glad to see me?”
“Because that means that I’ve been captured by the Wilson Corporation.”
“As a former Director of the Wilson Corporation you are facing some very serious charges. So why is it important that we capture you?”
“Because you would never know what was really going on out there if anyone else captured me.”
Rick wasn’t sure if this was another one of Collier’s tricks. “So, what is really going on out there?”
“I’ll tell CEO Hobbs and no one else.” Collier seemed desperate but it had nothing to do with being captured.
“Well, that’s just not going to happen. A wanted criminal having a private meeting with the CEO. That would not do well for his image. Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll relay the message?” Everyone had been beating Rick over the head about image, now he can use it to his advantage.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. You turn off the cameras and mic’s and I’ll tell you what is going on.”
“You are in no position to make deals.” Rick now had his curiosity aroused.
“Oh, that’s where you are wrong. Once you find out the truth, things will never be the same.”
Rick looked into Collier’s eyes. There was no evasion or deception, but there was fear behind Collier’s mild manner. Without a word he got up and left the room.
Rick closed the hatch and found Jennings standing in front of the observation room. “Well, what did you find out?”
“Quite a lot actually. He was not responsible for the attacks,” Rick said thoughtfully.
“Really, how did you get that? From what I saw of your conversation he gave you nothing.”
“My friend, I am first and foremost an investigator. One of the best in the Wilson Corporation. People give off signs when they are lying. He was not behind the attacks, but I am sure he knows who is. There was fear in his eyes. As a result, I’m inclined to agree with his demands.”
“Well, if you do that, I would suggest that you wait until after the jump. I’m afraid it is going to be a bumpy ride.”
“Was there that much damage?” Rick was shocked to learn that.
“Oh, yeah. I knew there would be. I’m going to need to put into space dock when I get home.”
“Okay, why did you take such a risk?” Rick wanted to know that it wasn’t just because of him.
“Because the CEO gave me direct orders not to break the cease fire. Even if it meant the destruction of my ship.”
“Oh,” said Rick. He thought about the implications of what Jennings was saying.
“So, I looked at it this way. Stay there and get shot up. Leave my crew stranded on an ice planet or run. While I don’t like running from a fight, I had my orders.”
Rick now understood why he didn’t want to talk about it in front of the crew. “I don’t think Hobbs could have imagined that you could have gotten into a situation like this.”
“True. Yet I still followed orders and saved the lives of my passengers.”
“You did do that,” said Rick with a smile.
Besides you were the one that pointed out how important Collier was. I couldn’t let them take him. Come up to the command deck, we’ll will be jumping soon. Then I can call for another ship to get you home.”
“You can get another ship to escort us, but I left on this ship. I’m going home on this ship. Oh by the way can you have someone take Mr. Graham back to our quarters. I’m sure he is still strapped down in your office.”
“Very well,” said Jennings with a smile. He turned and led the way to the command deck. He passed a crew man and gave the orders to take care of Mr. Graham.
As Jennings gave the orders Rick thought Bannic wanted an adventure but got more than he bargained for. Then continued to the command deck.
On the way Rick thought about what Collier had said. He had some kind of bargaining chip that would get him out of trouble. The only question was, how big was that chip?
As soon as Jennings entered the command deck he yelled out, “Report.”
“Sir engineering reports that they are ready to jump, but they are sure of only one jump. They want to stop and make further repairs once we are in Wilson space.”
“Understood, prepare to jump.”
“Engines primed and ready for your order,” said the first officer.
“Jump,” said Jennings.
Rick watched the main screen as the energy swirled around itself as the jump window formed.
“Thrusters to full.”
Just as the ship was about to enter the event horizon of the window one of the crew called out, “Sir we have three jump windows forming behind us.”
Somehow Rick knew that it was the Rossom ships. Jennings next words showed that he did too. “How the hell did they find us out in the middle of nowhere?” He turned to the first officer. “Give the main engines a two second burst.”
Rick could feel the acceleration showing that the orders were being carried out. Yes, thought Rick, this was a fine ship and crew.
“Revers image.” The main screen showed what was going on behind them. The Rossom ships were coming out of the windows just as Jennings was slipping to the other side of the galaxy.
It was strange for Rick to watch the haze come over the image. Then to see the energy wink out like it was imploding in on itself.