Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The two Serparnian vessels fell in behind the Orion as it left Serpalal Prime’s orbit. The ships were about as old as the Cassandra and only about half the size. Each one carried a pair of ancient disruptor batteries that couldn’t hope to punch a hole through the Orion’s shields, nor could they give Slonix’s ship more than a tickle.

None of that mattered as long as they played their assigned roles in Brett’s little drama. “The Serparnians are in position,” Ramirez said. “We’re ready to initiate.”

“Good,” Robyn said, her voice hoarse. From the way her hands clung to the sides of the command chair, she probably couldn’t stand up right now without falling over.

Brett considered suggesting again that she go back to sickbay. In her present condition he could as first officer have her removed forcibly and taken back to sickbay. But he couldn’t do that to Robyn. She’d dedicated her life to Starfleet’s principles of honor and duty; she wouldn’t abandon her crew now to ride out the hostilities on a sickbed.

The three ships coasted along to Serpalal III, the Orion going at half impulse to allow the Serparnian ships to keep pace. Slonix didn’t show as Brett knew he wouldn’t. Nevertheless, the Orion was at red alert with weapons armed and shields raised. If they weren’t, Slonix would be suspicious.

“Nothing on sensors,” Merle reported.

Robyn nodded to acknowledge this. Her eyelids drooped for a moment before springing open. Whatever stimulant she’d conned Dr. Chen into giving her must be wearing off now.

“We’re at point alpha,” Cooper said, her voice quivering.

This would be her first real taste of space combat. Brett hoped the kid didn’t fall apart once the shooting started. More than that, he hoped she didn’t end up like the last helmsman.

Turning to Robyn, he thought of Babs sitting in that chair the last time the Orion had tangled with Slonix’s ship. Babs who’d ended up hauled away with a sheet over her face. He forced himself to turn away before Robyn caught his eyes on her. This plan would work. It had to, he thought again.

“Initiate maneuver Boutwell Alpha,” Brett said.

Cooper’s hands tapped her controls and then the ship made a beeline towards Serpalal III. For a moment the Serparnian ships didn’t follow, but then they began the cumbersome process of turning in pursuit.

“We’re being hailed,” Ramirez said.

“Federation starship, you are not to deviate from your flight path,” a Serparnian voice hissed.

“This is Lieutenant Jorge Ramirez of the U.S.S. Orion. We have received word of Federation citizens in distress on the planet and are going to assist them. If you interfere, we will be forced to fire upon you.”

A smile pulled at the edges of Brett’s lips. From the subtle pompousness and indignation in his voice Ramirez could go into acting in holonovels when this was over. Anyone listening in—as Slonix certainly would be—would think Ramirez was in command of the Orion.

“You will resume your previous flight path immediately,” the Serparnian growled. The Serparnian ships moved on either side of the Orion, in perfect position to open fire.

“I’m sorry, but we have a humanitarian duty. Do not interfere,” Ramirez said.

The Serparnian ship on the starboard side opened fire, the green disruptor beam easily absorbed by the Orion’s shields. The ship on the port side then fired, its disruptors missing the Orion entirely. So far they were following the plan exactly.

“Initiate evasive maneuvers Boutwell beta,” Brett said.

Once Cooper punched in the pattern, the Orion began a series of looping maneuvers that carried it away from Serpalal III towards the fourth planet. The Serparnians doggedly pursued, firing bursts of well-aimed disruptor fire that did no damage whatsoever to the Orion.

The chase continued from the fourth planet to the fifth one, the Orion unable to shake its pursuers. Of course the Orion could have done so at any time by simply accelerating to full impulse, but this worked even better to give their audience the impression they were weaker than in actuality.

“We’re nearing point epsilon,” Cooper reported.

At this all of Robyn’s fatigue and sickliness fell away. In its place was the hardened Starfleet officer Brett knew so well. Her voice came out strong and confident as she said, “Begin phase two. Fire aft phasers and stand by transporter room to receive our guests.”

The Orion’s aft-facing phasers opened fire, the orange beam of light slicing through the Serparnian ship on the starboard side like a hot knife through butter. Thinking of the Sunigwil, Brett prayed the Serparnian vessel didn’t explode from the hit or else everything would fall apart.

This didn’t happen. The Serparnian ship held together, spinning away from the Orion towards the sixth planet of the system. The other ship opened fire, raining disruptor bolts harmlessly against the Orion’s shields in retribution. “Initiate evasive pattern Boutwell delta,” Robyn said before Brett could open his mouth.

The Orion began another series of looping evasive maneuvers that brought it past the sixth planet to the edge of the asteroid belt and right behind the damaged Serparnian ship. The Serparnian vessel maneuvered towards the mining colony, trying to seek cover in the asteroids. “Target their engines and fire phasers,” Robyn said.

Another orange beam sliced into the Serparnian ship, this time carving up its aft section. The memory of the Sunigwil again intruded upon Brett’s thoughts. But this time an explosion was exactly what they wanted.

“Warp core overloading. It’s going to blow,” Ramirez said.

“Evasive pattern Boutwell epsilon,” Robyn said calmly.

The Orion pulled away from the asteroid field with the second Serparnian breaking off its pursuit to head back for Serpalal Prime. Its companion drove into the asteroid field, the warp core reaching critical mass. A safe distance away, the Orion cut its engines and waited.

The Serparnian ship exploded with a flash of white light that would have blinded everyone the bridge if the viewscreen hadn’t automatically darkened. A shockwave carrying debris from the mining colony and the asteroid field spread out from the explosion, pelting the Orion’s shields. Brett was tempted to reach over to grab onto Robyn as the bridge shook, but he didn’t want to show her up in front of the crew. With her fingers dug into the armrest of the command chair, she managed to hold on.

When the viewscreen reactivated, Slonix’s patchwork warship hovered in the center of the screen, coming towards them.