-47-
On Victory’s bridge, Valerie continued to watch the main screen even after the doomsday machine’s disappearance. The lieutenant observed the transfer point inside the magnetic storm. Unlike previous times, this one closed suddenly before the ionic particles drained away.
“I can hardly believe we’ve won,” Valerie said. “It’s fantastic. But the magnetic storm isn’t going anywhere soon. We have to save our friends before it drifts toward them or their air runs out.”
“A sterling suggestion,” Galyan said. The holoimage stiffened then.
“What’s wrong?”
“My incredibly refined sensors are detecting a cloaked vessel.”
“What?” Valerie asked. “Where is it?”
Galyan paused before saying, “The vessel is approaching the drifting survivors.”
The lieutenant glanced at the holoimage. “Can you tell what kind of cloaked vessel it is?”
“I am attempting to do just—yes, I recognize the type. It is a star cruiser.
“The vessel belongs to the New Men?” Valerie asked in disbelief.
“That is the most logical conclusion. I wonder if they wish to capture the survivors.”
“Of course they do,” Valerie said. “It’s time to engage the star drive now. We have to rescue our friends.”
“Affirmative,” Galyan said. “I suggest you communicate with the Lord High Admiral and tell him what I am about to do.”
“Roger,” Valerie said, as she manipulated her board.
***
Victory used its star drive, transferring from the Home Fleet onto the other side of the planet-sized magnetic storm between Mars and Earth.
As soon as Valerie recovered from Jump Lag, she launched an automated shuttle. It headed toward the people drifting in space. The lieutenant hadn’t been able to make a radio connection with them yet due to the nearby ion storm, but she continued to try.
Finally, Galyan reappeared on the bridge. The AI always seemed the hardest hit by Jump Lag.
“Do you still see the cloaked vessel?” Valerie asked.
“I do not.”
“Is it gone?”
“I see them, Valerie. They deviated from their course, although the star cruiser is still heading for the survivors. Now, it is doing so from a different direction. They are practicing guile for a reason.”
“We should open channels with them.”
“This near the storm?” Galyan asked. “I do not believe you will prove successful in the endeavor. Instead, I will give them a neutron beam shot across the bow. That will undoubtedly gain their attention in the quickest manner possible.”
“Good idea,” Valerie said.
The lieutenant continued trying for a radio connection, first with the survivors and then with the star cruiser.
Finally, after warming up the neutron cannon, Galyan fired a purple beam into space. It was twenty thousand kilometers from the drifting survivors and five hundred kilometers from the cloaked vessel.
A moment later, Valerie gasped. The enemy commander over there must have received the neutron-beam message loud and clear.
A star cruiser appeared on the main screen as it dropped its cloak.
“You were right about it being there,” the lieutenant said.
“Did you doubt me?” Galyan asked.
“Maybe just a little,” Valerie admitted.
“What is this?” Galyan said. “I am detecting life forms. The New Men are ejecting them from the star cruiser.”
“Who are they?” Valerie asked.
“I have no idea.”
The lieutenant monitored the shuttle. It had already begun to brake, slowing down as it inched toward the doomsday machine survivors.
“The star cruiser is reengaging its cloak,” Galyan said.
Valerie looked up at the main screen. The star cruiser vanished from regular sensor sight.
“They are in for a surprise,” Galyan said, “as I am not through with them” The AI fired the neutron cannon a second time. A purple beam struck near the enemy vessel. The craft shimmered for a moment, reappearing before going invisible again.
“Does the enemy commander think I cannot target him?” Galyan asked.
“How come I’m not detecting a shield?” Valerie asked.
“Because the star cruiser does not have one up,” Galyan said. “I do not think they could maintain the cloak if they raised a powerful shield.”
“That gives them something of a dilemma.”
“Yes,” Galyan said. “My next shot will strike the star cruiser and end this farce.”
As if understanding their perilous situation, Valerie’s comm-screen came alive. The magnetic storm behind Victory made the image fuzzy. Even so, the lieutenant recognized the Methuselah Man on the screen. It was Strand.
His wizened features stared balefully at her. Finally, Strand smiled, although the warmth didn’t reach his eyes.
“Is this Starship Victory?” Strand asked.
“You know it is,” Valerie told him.
“I have given you a peace offering,” Strand said. “Accept it, and let us depart in peace. Otherwise, I will kill the two Patrol officers and your Captain Maddox.”
“What two Patrol officers?” Valerie asked.
“Commander Kris Guderian and Lieutenant Betty Artemis,” Strand said. “I ejected them from my vessel. They have gained new insights under my brief tutelage. I rescued them from disaster in the Karachi System. You may not know it yet, but the doomsday machine struck there before coming to the Solar System.”
“Why would you have rescued them?” Valerie asked.
“I have my reasons for doing so,” Strand said. “It should be sufficient for you that I’m returning them to Star Watch.”
“Sorry,” Valerie said, who didn’t feel sorry at all. “I can’t let your star cruiser leave. I’m placing you under arrest.”
“If you are serious,” Strand said, “then your Captain Maddox dies. My vessel has targeted the survivors. I will kill them before you are able to destroy my augmented star cruiser. Are you willing for that to happen, hmm?”
Valerie licked her lips. This Strand was a bastard. “What do you think, Galyan?” she whispered.
“We have won the engagement with the doomsday machine,” the AI said. “There will be time enough for Strand and his secret star cruiser. Let us rescue our friends.”
“Rescue our family,” Valerie said.
“You are correct,” Galyan said.
“If I agree to your terms,” Valerie said, peering at Strand again, “where will you go?”
“That is no concern of yours,” Strand said.
“I think it is. You’re in our Solar System, our home territory.”
“If that is the problem, know that I will leave the Solar System within the hour.”
“There isn’t a Laumer-Point that close,” Valerie said.
“Nevertheless,” Strand said, “I will leave. What is it to be, Lieutenant? You must choose quickly.”
“How do you know my rank?”
Strand smiled. “I know far more than you could possibly realize.”
“Why have you sided with the New Men?” Valerie asked.
Strand continued to smile.
Valerie loathed the man. “Go,” she said, thickly. “But if you’ve harmed the Patrol officers—”
“Please,” Strand said. “Do not threaten me. It will gain you nothing but my enmity. You truly do not want that.”
Valerie tried to think of a good retort, but failed. Maybe she was too worried about the others. “Go,” she said, “while you are able.”
Strand nodded in a mocking way. Then, the Methuselah Man cut the connection. Once more, the star cruiser faded from visible view.
“Should I warm up my disruptor cannon?” Galyan asked.
“No,” Valerie said. “That risks Maddox and the others’ lives. I don’t think we could destroy the star cruiser before he kills those drifting in their vacc-suits. Besides, as you said, we’ve already won this round.”
“I wonder what he was doing in the Solar System.”
“Trying to get control of the doomsday machine would be my guess.”