Sacrifice:The Shenkar War (43 page)

             
“The pain was unlike any pain I have ever experienced, but the chemical also somehow changed me. My nanites changed; they multiplied and became truly integrated with me. I was stronger and more aware. I would close my eyes and could sort of feel everything around me. I saw the electrical fields that surrounded everything. I soon realized that I could manipulate those fields. This is where it gets harder to remember. I remember breaking free and killing the Shenkar scientists who were monitoring me and I was able to escape.”

             
As Liam finished his tale, he looked away. Evan got the impression he had left something significant out, but he didn’t press him about it.

             
“
Well, it is good to have you back. Now we need to decide where we go from here. I could just make the decision for everyone, seeing as I am your commanding officer, but I have found that it is good to get some fresh perspectives sometimes,” said the Admiral.

             
“
What are our options?” asked Tim.

             
“
We could continue our guerrilla attacks against the Shenkar, or we could just sit tight. By sitting tight, we could continue monitoring the Shenkar buildup and send back information we collect to the defense force. That would keep the remaining crew of the
Sacrifice
safe. As for guerrilla tactics, we could further thin out the Shenkar forces. That, however, would bring them down upon our only outpost, so we would be essentially signing death warrants for ourselves and the crew of the
Sacrifice
,” explained the Admiral.

             
“
Are we writing off the option of capturing a Shenkar warship?” asked Crystal.

             
“
No, but to capture a Shenkar warship in this system would be almost impossible to do without bringing the Shenkar fleet down on us. If we failed to do it the first time, then we would have given our presence away. However, if we could capture a warship, I would take us back to Earth. According to the projections, the defense force should be more than a match for what remains of the Shenkar fleet,” explained the Admiral.

             
Again Evan looked at Liam, and it seemed again as if he had something more to say, yet still he remained silent. Turning back to the Admiral, Evan spoke.

             
“
I say we sit tight and gather intel. If the need arises, we could always revert back to our hit-and-run attacks.”

             
Before the Admiral could respond, the overhead comm unit came to life with the strained voice of Commander Dunklin.
“
Admiral Kelvin, please report to the command center as soon as possible. I repeat, Admiral Kelvin, please report to the command center as soon as possible.”

             
“
I’ll be back soon,” Evan said to Liam.

             
Before he could respond, they all followed the Admiral out the door, leaving Liam alone.

EDF Asteroid Base

              Admiral Kelvin entered the command center with Evan, Crystal, and Tim in tow. Spotting Commander Dunklin near the holographic table, he walked over to him. As he approached, Commander Dunklin snapped to attention and saluted the Admiral.

             
“
At ease, Commander. What seems to be the problem?”

             
“
We have been monitoring the Shenkar command base and any further additions as you commanded. About a half hour ago, we started intercepting transmissions from our system aimed directly for the Shenkar command base. Now, the unusual thing about this is that never before have the Shenkar signaled the command base when they were inbound. In addition, preliminary scans of the outer edges of the system show something large out there.”

             
“
Do the Shenkar seem to know there is something out there?” asked Admiral Kelvin.

             
“
No, I doubt it. Our scanners are by far better than those the Shenkar have,” answered the Commander.

             
“
Well, we had better see what is out there. We don’t need any more surprises at this moment. Who do we have on patrol at the moment? Let’s see if we can get close enough to get a good look,” said the Admiral.

             
“
Lieutenant Groto is just about to return from his patrol,” replied Commander Dunklin.

             
“
No, I’ll go,” came a quiet voice from behind them.

             
Turning, they saw Liam standing there. Before anyone could speak, Liam spoke again.
“
Chances are, the Shenkar have patrols out, and that is a ways to travel. Any of our fighters will run the risk of being spotted, but I could take my captured Shenkar fighter and take a look around. If I was spotted, they wouldn’t look twice at me. I get the feeling those crescent fighter pilots are some sort of elite class.”

             
They all looked at Liam in silence as he stood there, awaiting an answer. It was Commander Dunklin who spoke first.

             
“
He has a point, sir. I believe he could easily slip out there without any troubles.”

             
The Admiral continued to study Liam for several seconds, rubbing his chin with his hand before he finally spoke.
“
Very well, Commander. You can do it. I want constant updates on the secure channel. Also, how many seats are in that craft of yours?”

             
“
Two, sir,” answered Liam, a questioning look on his face.

             
“
I want you to take Mr. Wellmo with you. He, out of everyone here, knows the Shenkar forces we have on file.”

             
“
Very well, sir,” Liam said, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

EDF Asteroid Base

              Liam shifted slightly in an attempt to get more comfortable before locking his flight belt in place.

             
“
I think when we get back, I am going to need to see my tailor about this new battle suit. It seems a bit loose,” Liam said.

             
“
Well, sir, you haven’t recovered fully yet, which could be the reason it doesn’t fit to your old specifications,” said Tim in the seat behind him.

             
“
Are you saying I was fat before?” asked Liam sarcastically.

             
“
No, sir, not at all. I was just trying to . . .” sputtered Tim.

             
Laughing, Liam interrupted his former wingmate.
“
Relax, Tim, I was just messing with you. So do you really buy that story about wanting you to go along to help identify what’s out there?”

             
Tim was quiet for several seconds as Liam continued to cycle up his fighter before he finally answered.
“
No, sir, I don’t believe it. You were gone a long time, and we can’t say what the effects could have done to your state of mind. Plus, there is that part where you tore apart the med bay with your mind. I imagine the Admiral felt Evan would have been a bit too obvious, so I was sent along. Don’t get him wrong, sir. The Admiral just wants to make sure everything is okay with you--it isn’t that he doesn’t trust you.”

             
“
It’s all right, Tim; I understand. I would just have preferred him to be straightforward with me,” said Liam.

             
Liam’s fighter thrummed to life, and he keyed the comm unit.
              “
Flight control, this is Arch Angel requesting the all clear.”

             
“
Arch Angel, this is flight control. You are clear for takeoff . . . good luck, sir,” answered the voice of Lieutenant Sukita.

             
Liam maneuvered his fighter forward slowly out of the hangar bay. Ten seconds later, they emerged into open space and began to make their way toward the edge of the asteroid field. Slowing at the very outer edges of the field, Liam scanned for any enemy threats. When he found none, he spoke over his shoulder to Tim.

             
“
All clear. Okay, let’s do this.”

             
Setting his fighter to maximum speed, he sped away from the asteroid field on course for N-6. The flight was uneventful, as they did not run into any Shenkar forces. Tim’s voice broke the silence after roughly twenty minutes.

             
“
Odd, I would have thought we would have seen some Shenkar forces still entering the system. They have been pretty steady since they first came here. Do you think they have assembled their full fleet?”

             
“
It is possible, but from what I have heard, we have severely diminished their fleet. If they assault Earth now, they will lose. They don’t have the numbers to beat the defense force we should have assembled by now.”

             
“
Doesn’t make any sense, then. Do you think maybe they have decided against attacking Earth?” asked Tim.

             
“
It is possible. Seeing as we have done so much damage with just one battlecruiser, they might feel we are an enemy they won’t be able to defeat. But that is something I just can’t see them doing. From my time fighting them and from what I know of them from being captured, I don’t believe they would give up. That command center they have is big enough to produce new warships and clones to crew those ships. If anything, all we have done is slow them down enough to give Earth the time it needed.”

             
They continued on for the next hour in silence. It was just as they reached N-6 when they again broke the silence.

             
“
Sir, I am picking up something on the scanners. Cycling out interference--it will be a few seconds.”

             
Tim continued on working on the scanners until Liam heard a sharp intake of breath from behind him.

             
“
What is it, Tim?” asked Liam.

             
“
Sir . . . it is another Shenkar fleet,” Tim said quietly.

             
Checking his scanners he saw what Tim was talking about. Shenkar warships were stationed just outside the system.

             
“
How many and what kinds?” asked Liam.

             
Several seconds passed as Tim allowed the scanners to gather the necessary information before he spoke.
“
Fifty warships in total. Configurations are as follows: fifteen battlecruisers, twenty Shizrec-class cruisers, and fifteen Kelgen-class destroyers. My god, Liam, with this support, they will outnumber the Earth Defense Force. It is as if we have done nothing this whole time. We need to get back to the base and let the Admiral know what we have discovered.”

EDF Asteroid Base

              “
Another fleet? Fifty warships?” asked the Admiral, not bothering to hide the distress in his voice at the news.

             
“
Yes, sir. There are also close to another fifty support ships. From what Mr. Wellmo and I were able to ascertain, they seem to be just sitting there. None of the ships have entered the system,” said Liam.

             
“
Sir, we need to get a message to the defense force. They are expecting a force they can manage. If this fleet combines with the remains of the Dread Fleet, then Earth will fall,” said Commander Dunklin.

             
Admiral Kelvin turned away from the group and walked to the communications station, addressing the young man currently on duty.

             
“
Mr. Dormer, link us to the communications buoy. We need to relay a message to Earth immediately.”

             
The young officer hurriedly turned back to his keyboard and began punching keys. He then leaned forward to read the screen before him, a frown on his face. Leaning back, he began to punch the keys again, his frown getting deeper as he worked.

             
“
Is there a problem, Mr. Dormer?” asked the Admiral.

             
“
Yes, sir. I have tried to bring up the relay buoy, but it isn’t responding. It’s as if it is off-line.”