Constant Sorrow (Backyard Starship Book 15) by J.N. Chaney & Terry Maggert

Author:J.N. Chaney & Terry Maggert [Chaney, J.N. & Maggert, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2023-07-22T23:00:00+00:00

As soon as we twisted in to Ross 248, we saw the Synergist’s ship with its pursuer close behind. We’d used the nav data relayed to us from the Synergists to plunk ourselves directly in their path. The pursuer—a ship Netty-P immediately identified as another Vela craft—rightfully believed they had at least two hours before we could intervene. Since Netty-P gave it less than an hour for them to overtake the Synergists, they made no immediate effort to break off.

“Let’s ruin their day, shall we?” I said. “Torina, Rab, ready on the weapons. But please shoot to disable them. I’d really like to take these assholes alive. Funboy, I’d like you and Gabby to stand by in the Frankie. As soon as we’ve got the situation under control, I want you to head directly for the Synergists and render whatever aid they need.”

Everyone swiftly moved to comply. When Hodgepodge, the AI that controlled the combi-drive, signaled the system was ready, I engaged it.

“Kickin’ it now,” I informed everyone.

We all winced at the wrench of partial entry into a twist, then let out sighs of relief when the Fafnir was settled into her own little temporary universe. I told Hodgepodge to run the combi-drive for five minutes, which should bring us back into normal space close to, but still ahead of, the Vela ship.

“This still gives me a headache,” Torina grouched as the time on the combi-drive panel ticked down. We suited up and depressurized both the Fafnir and the Frankie.

“I feel it in my stomach, personally,” I replied, swallowing a queasy simmer of nausea. It was far better than when we’d first started using the combi-drive, out at Reverie. The spatial distortion still hadn’t been properly compensated, so flying with the thing engaged was like dropping acid and then stepping into a funhouse. At least, that was how I described it, based on my one and only experiment with LSD as a teenager—which also had the tragic effect of ruining Disney World for me. Permanently.

I’d hated the result then, and I hadn’t liked the combi-drive induced weirdness any more.

“Five seconds,” Hodgepodge said. We braced ourselves, again all wincing as the combi-drive cut out and we returned to ordinary, four-dimensional space.

I studied the tactical overlay. Our situational awareness while using the combi-drive was limited, our scanners essentially blinded to anything not within the immediate vicinity of the ship. The overlay quickly refilled with data, a red icon popping onto the display about a hundred thousand klicks away. I immediately hit the fusion drive, accelerating us on a parallel course. The Synergist’s ship would whip past us, followed by the Vela, until we gained enough velocity to match them. It didn’t matter, though. For the better part of a full minute, the Vela would be under our guns as it raced by.

I hit the comm, a multi-channel broadcast. “Vela ship, this is the Peacemaker ship Fafnir. Cut your drive, power down your weapons, and prepare to be boarded.”

I hadn’t really expected a reply and, sure enough, didn’t get one.

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