Merkiaari Wars 01: Hard Duty by Mark E. Cooper

Author:Mark E. Cooper [Cooper, Mark E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, military, series, Space Fleet, space opera, first contact, High Tech, alien invasion, Space Exploration
Publisher: Impulse Books UK
Published: 2016-08-09T23:00:00+00:00

14 ~ The Chase

Aboard Chakra, Shan System

“He’s running,” Tarjei shouted in her excitement.

Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement, but why run every time, why not fight? Every time Chakra found him, the alien tucked his tail and ran. And what about the other one? Firing into his ship should have made him mad enough to fire back, but he hadn’t. Why? He chewed his whiskers in agitation. Why, why, why? He hissed and spat as if tasting something he didn’t like. Unanswerable questions always left a bad taste. He hated that!

“Search for the asteroids as we discussed,” Tei’Varyk said. “When you find the closest one of the right size, we will get there ahead of him and be waiting. He will not escape us this time.”

“I hear,” Tarjei said. “Lairs to your screen.”

He studied his displays. “Remove any he has used before, Tarjei. I don’t think he will chance using them again.”

“I hear and comply.”

Tei’Varyk noted the first ten or so had disappeared, but already there were numerous asteroids on his display and more appearing as he watched.

“Remove target asteroids that would require him to backtrack in order to reach them.”

“I hear,” Tarjei said and did as he asked.

“Good, very good.” There was an asteroid almost exactly on the alien’s current heading. “I believe I have him. Jakinda, new course—”

“New contact!” Tarjei said as the bridge alarms signalled an unknown target ahead.

“Silence that!”

“I hear,” Jozka said and the alarm fell silent.

“Is it another light fang or a heavy?” Tei’Varyk asked intently. The aliens might be lying in wait for him.

“Neither, Tei. The target is at station keeping, and in the open a short distance from the alien’s previous hiding place. The asteroid was occluding Chakra’s eyes, but he sees him clearly now. It’s small, no weapons of any kind.” Tarjei looked up from her controls in confusion. “It seems to be a cub lander.”

“That doesn’t make sense…” A cub was useless in space. It was only carried aboard to ferry crew to and from a planet or mining base. “What’s it doing now?”

“Nothing, Tei. It’s waiting for us to kill it.”

“Let us do that then,” Kajika said eager to kill something after so long on the hunt with little to show for it.

“I hear, Tarjei,” Tei’Varyk said ignoring Kajika’s lapse in discipline.

He understood Kajika’s feelings, but he didn’t want to be hasty. He might learn the secret of the alien FTL they had witnessed. Although it seemed unlikely a cub would have the ability, there might be something interesting. He had to choose soon or he would over fly it. He hesitated a moment longer then turned to Jakinda.

“Bring us alongside the cub.”

Hisses of displeasure surrounded him and Tarjei looked at him in worry. He flicked his ears at her keeping his face bland and she grinned.

“I will take this gift they have left me, and I will learn what they’re about. I know where the alien fang will hide, do not worry. Look ahead in harmony and obey.”

“I hear. Commencing deceleration,” Jakinda said.

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