Scions of Humanity - A Metaphysical Space Opera Adventure (Aeon 14: The Ascension War) by M. D. Cooper

Author:M. D. Cooper [Cooper, M. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Wooden Pen Press
Published: 2020-12-23T16:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Nine minutes later, Mira entered the bridge, still in her armor, helmet tucked under arm.

“Commander on the bridge!” Janice announced as she rose from Mira’s seat.

The two ensigns straightened and nodded in her direction before returning to their tasks.

“We’re on our first burn, ma’am,” Janice reported. “We’ll be in position to fire the grapeshot in seven minutes.”

“Excellent,” Mira replied, taking her seat. “Anything from the Bozan frigate?”

“Not a peep, ma’am,” Brock answered, his brow furrowed. “I’ve sent them the standard hail, and nothing. I don’t think they really plan to talk about this.”

The commander nodded. “I’m getting that impression as well.” She glanced at Janice, who was settling into her normal station. “And the missiles?”

“In the tubes. I recommend we fire them while behind the moonlet, as we discussed. Send them around the far side so they hit the frigate in the flank after the grapeshot does its thing.”

Mira pulled the plots up on her console and confirmed that the weapons would be out of sight for most of their journey. “Lay it in.”

“Aye, ma’am.”

“Mir—Commander?” Brock asked hesitantly. “Do you really think you found an alien bot down there?”

She drew a long breath, buying herself thinking time before answering.

“I can’t speak definitively one way or another. It’s definitely unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. If we hadn’t just flown past an alien artifact last week, I would have dismissed the thought out of hand, but now, knowing what we know? It’s hard to say it isn’t. Maybe once we get into the dark layer, we can take a closer look.”

Emma cleared her throat, and Mira gave her an understanding nod.

“We will make it there. I promise.”

The pilot gave a half smile, then glanced at her brother. “You’re right, Commander. We’ve got this.”

Mira rose, her hands moving to straighten her tunic before she remembered it was still in the armory. “Well, I suppose I should hail this bastard. No reason to let them accuse that I fired without warning.”

“I think their attack in Regina and non-response here covers that,” Janice said.

“Still, better safe than sorry.” Mira nodded to Brock. “Set me up.”

His hands danced over his console for a moment, and then he nodded to her. “All set, ma’am. We’re broadcasting on a dozen standard frequencies.”

“Bozan frigate, broadcasting ident AZB-9910-C114. You are ordered to change course and leave the Khorina System by the most expedient route. Your company has been involved in known criminal activity, and records of our prior engagement in Regina have already been sent by probe to Bysmark. By the time you return to Regina, a full investigation will be underway.

“I say all of this to let you know that any aggression against us will get you nowhere. Moreover, it is all being observed by remote probes, and those records will find their way back to Bysmark as well. Continue down this path and you’ll see yourselves up for life in prison—perhaps even a charge of treason.

“If you do not change course immediately, you will be fired upon.

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