The Lost Intelligence by Heppner Vaughn

Author:Heppner, Vaughn [Heppner, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Amazon: B085Q2LYKY
Goodreads: 52314737
Published: 2020-03-09T07:00:00+00:00

-11-

A little over six weeks after leaving the temporal distortions in the Erill System, Victory entered the Jarnevon System, named after its chief planet. The starship came through a Laumer Point several million kilometers from Jarnevon. Maddox sat in his command seat as his bridge officers began to revive.

Soon, Valerie noted the amount of comm chatter between the planet and the Star Watch Bismarck-class battleships in orbit.

“I’m counting seven battleships, sir,” Valerie said.

Maddox nodded.

“They’re leaving orbit,” she said. “Sir, they’re heading toward us.”

“Or the Laumer Point,” Maddox said.

“I don’t think so, sir,” Valerie said. “There are four attack cruisers and five missile cruisers. They’ve come around Jarnevon to join the battleships.” She turned in her seat. “I think they’re our reception committee.”

Maddox rose thoughtfully from his command chair. He approached the main screen.

Valerie manipulated her panel. “This is at high magnification, sir.”

The rocky, brown planet blew up in size. The seven battleships and nine other capital ships joining them were easily visible due to their long tails of hot exhaust.

“Do you see any haulers in orbit?” asked Maddox.

“I do,” Valerie said. “They’re heading around the planet compared to us as if they’re hiding from sight.”

Maddox nodded, rubbing his chin. “You have the bridge, Lieutenant. I’m going to speak with Ludendorff.”

Valerie rose, heading for the captain’s chair.

Maddox exited the bridge, calling for Galyan and asking him the professor’s whereabouts. The Methuselah Man was in the cafeteria eating a late breakfast.

Maddox’s stomach rumbled. A late breakfast sounded good about now. He headed for the cafeteria.

Ten minutes later, he joined the professor, who was reading a computer slate as he finished his breakfast plate.

“Oh,” Ludendorff said, looking up. “I wouldn’t expect to find you here. I figured we were jumping straight to Jarnevon.”

Maddox sat, setting his plate on the table and using his knife and fork to cut a steak, popping a piece into his mouth. He ate runny egg afterward, using the hash browns to mop up the yellow yolk. Only then did he tell the professor about the flotilla heading for them.

“That sounds like a small fleet to me,” Ludendorff said.

“What’s your guess concerning their intentions?”

“I see,” Ludendorff said. “Are they going to stop us from landing on the planet or will they attempt to intern Victory?”

Maddox nodded.

Ludendorff tapped his fork against his empty plate until he shrugged. “It could be either. Perhaps we should head straight for Earth.”

“What if Earth is just as bad?”

“That’s a Methuselah Man question,” Ludendorff said. “I have to constantly assess situations wherever I go. Perhaps that’s why I’ve put up with your arrogance all this time. Victory has been a safe harbor for me on many occasions.”

“Either way,” Maddox said. “We’re not going to be able to test your headbands on Jarnevon. The aggressive fleet maneuvering means Nostradamus has outguessed us in this system.”

“Not necessarily, but most likely you’re correct. I should have foreseen this. It was our obvious play, and Nostradamus would want to keep his origins as secret as possible from us in particular.

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