Crucible: Records of the Argos by Michael J. Farlow

Author:Michael J. Farlow [Farlow, Michael J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wolf Press
Published: 2021-02-13T22:00:00+00:00

We were barely done with the first week of crew training in fleet maneuvers, small formation combat, and the upgrades in weapons systems when the first bad news came in from Tye. Amini was well enough now to man her station on the Argos bridge.

“Nick, I am receiving some long-range chatter from the area of Tye. Too broken to get real detail, but the gist is that warships are imposing sanctions on Tye if they don’t pay back what was stolen. There is more, but I can’t get it.”

“Wizzy.”

“I heard, Captain Nick. I am listening along with Amini. What we are hearing is backscatter from free ions in space. I’m surprised we are getting as much as we are. To learn more, we have to get closer.”

“How close?”

“We need to cut the distance in half.”

“That’s too close. If we had to run with these cargo ships, any warship would be on them before they could get away, and we can’t take on unknown warships with this group at present. Need a better idea.”

“Captain Nick, there is no other option unless it is to do nothing.”

“Maybe. Remind me what you said about the communications from Base 1, where we were captured.”

“Why?”

“I think you said it had more power than any ship can generate plus something about relays.”

“Yes, but… Oh! I see where you are going. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Perhaps ape brains have qualities you aren’t aware of.”

“Maybe. But with these ships, it will take a long time to organize and get to Base 1 and listen in.”

“We’re not taking any ships. Just Argos. Tell Tiana to send us some of her best fighters.”

“And if she asks why?”

I didn’t have time to explain it to her. “Just tell her to trust me; it’s urgent.”

Tiana did trust me and sent half a dozen of her best to us in full combat gear. They weren’t fully trained yet, but they were all we had.

In less than an hour, Argos got underway and did an FTL jump to Base 1. We planned the maneuver to drop us a little distance from the supply base and then moved in on normal power alone, under stealth. In the hours it took to complete the FTL flight, I took it upon myself to look into the failure of the leap drive. I had done this a few times since the failure, but I still couldn’t figure it out. Wizzy couldn’t either, so my ego wasn’t bruised.

There were no ships tethered to the unmanned hulk and no lights showing anywhere. From our first visit there, we knew the asteroid contained a significant underground facility and prison cells. The communications center, however, was above the surface and was adorned by the variety of antennas one would expect. We hoped to enter the communications center, listen in, and then leave explosive charges behind in the center to eliminate the important part of the facility. Remembering what happened last time, the Resistance volunteers would be prepared for a hot reception. Sif would not let me go without his “protective” services, so he was also along for the mission.

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