Homebound - chpt 9 completed (28/12/04)

[Mercenary]

Previous Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

Completed under the =====

Chapter 9
-

The Defiance slowed as it approached the gate, and Tor brought it to a complete halt just outside weapons range of the Destroyers. He took several deep breaths before glancing over to Tris.

"Brace yourself. This could be a rough ride."

The engine pods flared as the Defiance surged forwards, particle beams were met by Khaak beam weapons. The Defiance lurched and strafed through a web of incoming fire. Khaak fighters shimmered and exploded. The bulk of a destroyer cut across their path as missile warnings blared through the cabin.

Targets were locked and reduced to bright flares of superheated elements. The Defiance banked away.

"Shields at forty seven percent."

"We just scratched the surface, there's no way through." Tris turned sharply to face Tor.

"Tell me when the shields have recovered. We'll go in again." Tor checked the HUD. "This time we need to take out one of the big ship."

The Defiance completed a wide circle and plunged into the mass of defending ships.

"Warning, missiles closing."

"Keep the beam on the Destroyer."

Strafing along the length of the hull the ship dived down between the massive hulls of the Khaak capital ships. Scouts swerved in towards them. The secondary beam flashing from ship to ship leaving small incandescent glows.

"Heavy fighters ahead." Tris announced.

"Shields?"

"Sixty four percent and falling."

"The Destroyer?"

"Twenty two percent, and registering minor fractures in the hull."

The Defiance lurched as a beam from the Destroyer locked on. Tor wrestled with the controls, boosting the speed to punch a hole in the cloud of surrounding enemy ships, the shields fell away until he reached safe distance.

"This is futile, we're still no nearer the gate." Tris looked as frustrated as she sounded.

"We will be. Prepare for a third run."

"Tor, might I suggest deploying a small nav probe. It could be timed to fire as we make the next engagement, and providing we open a clear passage for it, the probe could give us the navigational information we need to jump past this blockade." Corricel was keeping count of the Khaak numbers, more ships were appearing to compensate for the losses.

"Good thinking, deploy the probe where you think it has the best chance for success."

"Modifying flight trajectory to suit." They came around again.

Fighters and interceptors hurtled to meet them. The centre opened up, like an eye onto the Destroyer. Tor recognised immediately that the fighters were trying to channel the Defiance into the line of fire of the capital ship while preventing him from manoeuvring side to side.

"Corri, take everything out to the left of us."

He turned the ship, beam weapons opened up as they came in range. The interceptors took several sezuras to succumb, the fighters considerably longer. Each explosion rippling in the shields and draining them a fraction at a time.

The ship rolled and strafed clear with a renewed surge of power. The weapons focussed on the bulk of the Destroyer to shimmer in violent hues of colour against the hull.

Beams tore through the void, slicing past the Defiance as it turned and twisted to avoid them. Dancing sideways as new turrets flared to life while fast scout ships swarmed to intercept, launching missiles as they came.

"Shields at forty percent."

Tor's face was grim with determination. The fury of the storm had been unleashed, shields shimmered, ships exploded, the hull of the Destroyer appeared to ripple with fear as fractures widened and flames spewed from gaping rents in the side.

The fire fight went on as chunks of the disintegrating ship slammed into Khaak scouts and fighters.

"Shields at fifteen percent."

"Tor, we've got to get out of here!"

A quick twist and sideways strafe saved them from a collision with a large section of fuselage. Tor hit the boost, skimming over the hemorrhaging Destroyer, and moments later the shockwave of the exploding engines rippled out behind them, taking with it numerous scouts, interceptors and heavy fighters.

The leading edge of the shockwave caught the Defiance and span the ship.

"Shields critical. Hull fractures in cargo section. Atmospheric leakage minimal. Pressure stabilised." Corricel announced.

"Take all necessary precautions and seal the hull." Tor brought up the HUD system information and focused his attention on the gate.

New ships were appearing, including two new Destroyers.

"Someone give me some good news on the probe." Tor's voice reflected his frustration.

"No information as yet." Tris examined the terminal in front of her.

"Are we sure it made it through?"

"Affirmative. You must bear in mind the Khaak could also be behind the gate. We must not rule out that it has been destroyed."

"Corri, analyse the fights so far. Is there any way we can draw them out and make an opening to the gate?"

"You want to take another run? Are you mad?" Tris stared at him.

"They don't want us to go through, I want to know why." Tor stated and checked the shield condition.

"My analysis of the Khaak defences show a suicide run to the gate might just succeed. However the Defiance will be in no condition to fight should Khaak forces await us on the other side." Corricel sounded cheerful.

"Plot the course."

"Shields at one hundred percent."

"Have faith Tris, I'm not ready to die just yet."

She looked at him, the fierce determination burned in his eyes. Her gaze returned to the terminal. The ship accelerated towards the enemy lines. Attitude engines roared and the cabin shook as beam lasers lanced out to meet them.

The eerie silence of explosions a stark contrast to the shuddering of the ship from intermittent beam strikes. Tris moved uncomfortably in her seat, the terminal was a sea of red with hostile contacts. Doubt filled her mind as the ship lurched once again. The sound of attitude thrusters rumbled through the cockpit.

"Shields at sixty three percent."

She stared hard at the plotted course. There was no way through. The shimmering hull of a Destroyer filled every aspect of the cockpit. The Defiance slewed sideways through the haze of beam weapons breaking free to face more fighters.

The Defiance swept around the first Destroyers, exchanging weapons fire in a renewed blaze of light.

"Shields forty one percent."

A group of four Khaak heavy fighters blocked the path. The Defiance swerved, cutting across the nose of an interceptor. Particle beam met Khaak laser and the interceptor exploded. Cutting back towards the opening of the gate a second Destroyer moved to intercept.

The rising sense of panic gripped her, and still there was no way through. The gate appeared no closer. As fast as the hostile contacts vanished more appeared and the immense power of the Defiance shields wilted.

"Shields twenty five percent."

A flight of a dozen scout ships swarmed towards them. The Defiance rolled through the expanding cloud of vapourised hulls. Tris glanced at Tor, the beads of sweat on his forehead shimmered in the blaze of lights.

"Shields nine percent."

The gate loomed agonisingly close as a third Destroyer moved to block their path. The growing certainty of death laid its icy fingers on her mind, filling every corner of her conscious. She gave a last futile glance at the terminal.

"I have a nav signal." Tris called out.

"Initialising jumpdrive. Shields five percent."

Tor threw the Defiance in a spin.

"Corri, all auxiliary power to shields."

"Shields at seven percent."

"Tris, clip the suits helmet in place. The airs going to get cold pretty damn quick." He smothly moved the flight stick left and then pulled back sharply.

She glanced at the control panel and noted the sign, 'LIFE SUPPORT OFF LINE'

"If you're gonna die, die with your suit on. Isn't that how it goes?" She commented quietly.

"Sixty percent."

The Defiance lurched with a stomach shifting thump.

"Seventy percent."

Even the Defiance weapons were quiet now as more Khaak ships swarmed in, sensing the kill.

"Eighty percent."

Tris stared at the list of off line systems and knew that without inertial dampers there would be no quick blast of speed to escape.

"Ninety percent. Shields critical!"

The wormhole opened and beam weapons filled the void.

The Defiance hurtled out of the opening wormhole some distance from the gate. A host of Khaak ships lay behind them and were taken by surprise.

"Inertial Sub Space unit on line. Auxiliary units recharging. Shields at three percent and rising." Corricel continued to rattle off a system check as Tor engaged the main engines to maximum acceleration.

"Damage report?" Tor glanced at the HUD. He almost expected to see a vast armada of warships but there was none. "That was a lot of effort not to let us through. Yet I don't see why."

"Which do you want me to answer first?" Corricel responded.

"Long range scanners show a few stations, the usual sector forces, and." Tris stared at the screen thoughtfully.

"And what?" Tor looked over towards her.

"What looks like the remains of a ship." Tris sat back.

"And?"

"Well, it's in bad shape that's for certain. The configuration seems to match that of the new Split Dragon class of corvette. But I can't be certain of that." She glanced over towards him.

"Split?" Tor gave a half hearted shrug, "Sounds like one of that arrogant race has had his just deserts. All I need to know is how he got here?"

"There's no other active jumpgates in this sector." Tris looked perplexed.

"That's not exactly the news I'd like to hear right now." Tor scanned the HUD.

"Would you like the damage report?" Corricel cut in at what she thought to be an appropriate time.

"Okay, what have you got for me?"

"We have a coolant leak on engine one. Shut down will be necessary in twenty mizuras. There are twenty two micro-fractures in the hull that need to be sealed. Although not leaking atmosphere they will not withstand high levels of structural stress. The replicator power coupler is damaged."

Tor was inclined to reel off a string of profanities but refrained from doing so. "Ideas people, where do we go from here?"

"It's a long shot, but we could take a look at the star charts." Tris was trawling her memory for the astro-navigation lecture that tried to cover this theory.

"How much of a long shot is it?"

"If we're within a few light years of a system we know certain star patterns will have a similar shape. From these we can triangulate to the nearest system."

"What do you mean by a few?" Tor was mindful not to get too hopeful.

"Speculatively, about four or five." Tris gave a half hearted shrug.

"Corri, up to you this one. And tell me if we have a spare power coupling for the replicator?"

"Already mapping current system. The answer to your question is, yes. The tool locker in the main cargo bay contains the spares. However there is no atmosphere in the cargo bay, and to risk pressurising it could lead to micro-fracture propagation."

"So what you're saying is, I'll need to be fully suited." He looked over at Tris, "Pilot seat's all yours."

She moved her hands to remove the suit helmet.

"Best you leave that on, just in case." Tor gave her a smile before stepping out of his seat. As he wandered through the cabin he felt his knees begin to buckle and leant heavily against the table.

"Are your okay?" Tor turned to see Tris looking at him with concern.

"Yeah, I think I've been sat down too long. That's all." He felt tired, and with each passing moment he felt his strength leech away. Bone weary, he staggered as though he was drunk towards the bulkhead airlock door. He rested heavily against the wall and breathed deeply as he pulled the suit helmet over his head and clipped the seal closed.

Levering himself away from the wall, he pressed the release button on the control panel. The door slid open and Tor lurched unsteadily into the airlock. The door closed behind him with a hiss. Corricel monitored his progress but knew better than to dissuade him from his current course of action.

"Tris, you may need to assist Tor in the replacement of the coupling."

"What's the matter?" She glanced towards the technical datapad before looking over her shoulder.

"Combat fatigue. He is too proud to mention it, but he is nearing exhaustion. Not that the excitement will not have taken its toll on you. You are showing signs of fatigue as well but your mind has yet to register it."

"That's because I can still feel the adrenaline rush." Tris responded calmly, "Near death experiences tend to play havoc with the glands." Pausing for a moment, she felt the gradual tingling in her legs, and the weariness creeping over her. "How's the star chart comparison going?"

"No matches with the core sectors. I am expanding the search along the trade routes."

"I wonder why the Dragon is here?" Tris gazed at the HUD.

The hiss of the airlock signaled the return of Tor. His steps were driven by will, rather than the voluntary action of his limbs.

"Corri, which panel do I need to remove."

"Panel lights are now on."

Tor spent a moment looking around before he saw the glow. It was located in the floor which gave him the excuse to kneel down. The panel popped open with some ease, and Tor studied the damaged coupling. He flipped open the release latches and pulled the unit free. Taking a moment he reached for the tool box and opened it.

A micro fracture in the outer hull ripped open. Tor felt himself sucked towards the hole. Alarms reverberated around the cabin. Objects hammered into him, the removed coupling and toolbox slammed into his outstretched hand to the sound of breaking fingers. Tris clung onto the seat and flight stick spinning the Defiance.

Corricel purged atmosphere and pressure in a single rapid burst. Tor was now wide awake from the pain, and at this moment the Khaak saw an opportunity to strike.

Wormholes opened ahead of the tumbling ship.

==========

With no atmosphere and the pressure balanced only suit mics worked. Tor did not cry out in pain, a guttural growl escaped his lips at the pain in his hand.

"Warning, enemy ships approaching."

"Steady the ship, and use auxiliary thrusters to avoid collision." Tor fought against the pain.

Tris slammed the flight stick in the opposition direction of spin. Attitude thrusters roared as the Defiance responded to the input. The distance closed rapidly on the newly emerging ships. A Destroyer blocked their path. Compared to her experience with the old model Elite, the Defiance was almost too responsive. Yet the vector change could not happen fast enough.

The hull of the Khaak Destroyer hurtled towards them.

Tor looked down at the black inner skin that had saved him from being sucked into the void and, with his one good hand, threw the accumulated debris that had been sucked into the gaps around the tiles aside. Opening the toolbox he pulled out the replacement coupling and jammed it into place. A normal two handed operation was almost too much as the first latch clicked shut.

Tris, unaware of Tor's predicament, concentrated on shedding the phenomenal speed of the Defiance. Turning the ship she used the main engines. Even with a quick scan of the speed and distance to the Destroyer, Tris knew they could not slow down fast enough. She re-angled the ship to both slow down and change heading.

Dropping into single kilometre figures. Tris flipped the ship over and hoped desperately that she had done enough. The arc of the Destroyers hull rushed towards them. She located the strafe control panel and fired the vertical attitude jets.

Tor clicked the final latch closed.

"Replicator on-line. Initialising hull repair."

Moments later and the Defiance proximity warnings blared for a brief moment. The shields of both ships sparked and energy pulses cascaded over them.

"Collision warning. Distance fifty metres. Twenty metres. Five metres. One metre." There was a gentle bump and the hull screeched. "Collision detected. Proximity eight metres. Fifteen metres. Shields at twenty percent."

Tris glanced at the HUD to gauge the status of the Khaak Destroyer. The main engines appeared to have failed.

"Did we just hit something?" Tor's voice mocked her.

"What of it?" Tris was concentrating on their surroundings. Clusters were appearing ahead of them as she continued to lose speed.

"Women pilots should be banned. There's millions of kilometres of empty space in all directions and you managed to hit the only thing around. I think I might have a stun stick somewhere nearby."

"Oh, so it's my fault we were traveling too fast." The particle beams lashed out. Explosions flashed ahead of them as the Defiance punched a hole through the centre of the cluster, scattering the scout ships with the occasional beam laser shimmering against the shields of the Defiance. Moments passed and they were, once more, in clear space.

Tris took the rest bite to look over her shoulder towards where Tor sat. He had his back to the bulkhead and was cradling his hand. The floor panel had not been replaced.

"What's up with you?" Her voice was tinged with concern.

"Tool box broke my fingers when the hull ripped."

"Corri, how's the hull repair going? Can we re-pressurise the cabin?"

"It was going well until we made contact with the Destroyer. The replicators new power coupling's surge protection has been damaged, and this time we have no spare."

"Did you repair the coolant leak in engine one?" Tor asked.

"Yes. The main concern now is that the hull is not repaired and there is no practical way of administering medical assistance."

"Then you'd better find us a way home." Tor shifted position and awkwardly rose to his feet. A few faltering steps later and he sat heavily on the edge of the bunk.

"I believe I have found a star chart match with Nyana's Hideout. Direction has been determined and the distance is approximately five light years from our current position."

"Good work. Now do we have the energy cells to make the jump?"

"I must point out that gravitational fields and galactic drift makes the jump accuracy inexact for a one off jump. The target solar system will have traveled from its current visible position by an as yet undetermined amount. I have insufficient data to approximate the exact position of the system."

"A simple yes or no would do." Tor lay back on the bunk. The environment suit felt uncomfortable.

"I can not determine the answer to the question. It will take multiple jumps with course corrections after each one to reach the system."

"See if you can do it in two. One major jump and then a minor." Tor closed his eyes against the throbbing pain in his hand. He could feel his fingers had swollen and were being constricted from further expansion by the suits gauntlet.

"That's taking a big risk." Tris glanced around concerned. She felt unable to leave the pilots seat with the continued threat of Khaak attack.

"I don't care just get us somewhere friendly. And remember we have interplanetary drive capability, so being out by a few million kilometres isn't a big problem." Tor felt perspiration trickle down his face and was all to aware that there was no way he could wipe it away.

Tris was perplexed, her astro-navigation course had briefly explained the practical problems of point to point gateless jumps without having determined the correction values first. Light bending under the influence of gravitational forces, the motion of solar systems and other factors.

"Corri, calculate for a three light year, two light year split. We should be able to make a reasonable estimate of the correction value after the first jump."

"Understood, establishing reference points, calculating vector and destination co-ordinates of first jump."

Jump tunnels began to open up ahead of them.

"We have incoming." Tris called out as several Destroyers emerged. "Corri, now's a good time for that jump."

The HUD filled with more contacts. Four fast Destroyers appeared to the rear, their engines flaring brightly, the distance between them being eaten up. Ahead of them a circle of eight closing together.

Tris had to risk it, she could see no option but to chance flying between the enemy ships. The Destroyers increased velocity and turned as the Defiance shot through the centre of the circle.

More destroyers were on the HUD. A second concentric ring of eight were on the same vector as them and moving at speed.

Tris read the situation. They were hemmed in between two concentric rings with four ships behind. Jump tunnels opened in the distance.

"Detecting shield wall ahead." Corricel announced.

"Find me an opening!"

"None found. Approaching ships will be in firing range within twenty sezuras."

Tris turned the ship towards the space between the two rings of eight. The Destroyers closed formation. Khaak lasers lanced out towards them, she brought the ship back towards the centre.

"Can we disrupt the shields."

"Not without getting into firing range of the enemy."

"Unless you have a jump co-ordinate for us we're going to have to try something and soon."

"Emergency escape jump co-ordinates input, jumpdrive charging."

Tris angled in towards the forward Destroyers. She scanned the HUD, and shook her head, they were matching her speed. She noted they were keeping perfect formation rather than constricting.
A lattice of laser fire streamed towards them as they drew within weapons range and she twitched the ship back towards the centre of the formation.

"Jump co-ordinates calculated updating drive. Jump in ten, nine, eight."

Tris glanced at the HUD, and realised they would not make it. She turned the ship around and engaged the main thrusters. The following four Destroyers opened fire. The screen of laser fire filled the screen, and there was no chance of not being struck by the crossfire.

"Four, three, two."

The Defiance shuddered unable to tear itself free of the crossing lasers and the shields plunged.

"Jumping."

The jump tunnel opened and was lost in the blaze of laser fire against the shields.

The Defiance emerged in the dark empty void between solar systems. Emptiness stretched in every direction to the limits of the scanners. Tris turned the pilot seat and looked towards Tor, he appeared to be resting quietly, and she turned back towards the main flight deck.

"How long to calculate the vector correction value?"

"I will have it ready in three mizuras."

She checked the inventory on jump cells and made a mental note that they had only a third of the original number left.

"Corri, tell me we have enough cells for the final jump."

"That will depend on the correction value. But my current estimate is that we will be five hundred AU short."

"Short of where?"

"The centre of the Nyana's Hideout system."

"Seven hundred and fifty million kilometres, is a long way to fall short."

"At interplanetary speeds we will arrive in the sector within three tazuras."

"Is it possible to isolate a gate signature and lock onto that?" Tris needed options. There was no way she wanted to spend several tazuras stuck inside the suit, unable to eat, drink or use even the most basic of amenities.

"It may be possible, but it will take longer to isolate a jump corridor, and if I do it may not take us back to our own sectors."

Tris sat in thought and knew the last thing they wanted was to make a jump back into hostile territory by accident. Three tazuras of discomfort would be a small price to pay. She wondered how Tor would be able to survive with no medical treatment.

"Stay with the original plan, Corri. Calculate the jump co-ordinates and make the jump when ready."

The mizuras passed slowly with no sign of Khaak jumping in to attack them. The Defiance hurtling on through the void. Doubts gnawed at her, there was so much potential for them being wrong. She considered the distances and gravitational effects bending light and for Corricel to pick up on a star that was between them and their destination. A case of mistaken identity and yet she felt unable to express her concerns as they were now committed with no way back.

"Jumpdrive initiated." Corricel announced.

Tris breathed deeply, "Let's hope we're right about this."

"Have faith in me, Tris."

"Faith? I have faith in you Corri, but every sentient being makes mistakes. It's what makes us who we are."

"Jumping."

[skullhead]

Action Adventure and everything Inbetween. Homebound - Coming to a Theater near you.

Great work Mercenary

[SteveMill]

Exciting stuff.

She looked at him, the fierce determination burned in his eyes.

Maybe you're over-doing the grim-faced determination bit - it's a bit cliched possibly?

Call that a cliffhanger?

[Golden_Gonads]

Call that a cliffhanger?

Methinks a more... evil cliffhanger would have been at the point:

"Shields nine percent."

Or just after with:

quote] The gate loomed agonisingly close as a third Destroyer moved to block their path. The growing certainty of death laid its icy fingers on her mind, filling every corner of her conscious. She gave a last futile glance at the terminal. [/quote]


Still, that would have been evil and led to butchering the English language whilst spluttering, so much better as it was, ohhh yes...


.......

Oh... Did I forget to say 'Good Job, excellent stuff?' Silly me, well, consider it said.


--

Goldenus Gonadius

[Mercenary]

Perhaps I should have used the "Jumpdrive charging 10%.. Shield 5%."

Initialising in this case means 'starting to charge.' and we know how painfully slow it can be to reach the 'jumping' statement.

[SteveMill]

Perhaps I should have used the "Jumpdrive charging 10%.. Shield 5%."

Initialising in this case means 'starting to charge.' and we know how painfully slow it can be to reach the 'jumping' statement.

I was just taking the piss out of myself in the form of the over-the-top Rogue cliff-hangers we were all so fond of.

[KiwiNZ]

Excellent read! I certainly would like a ship like that, killing destroyers while being fired at by fighters. Very captivating battle sequence. I am looking forward to the next part!


"This time we need to take out one of the big ship." - ships

[Urashima Keitaro]

Sweet read...

But, ah, I see, the cliffhanger is the wondering whether they'd survive as the jumpdrive has only just started to power up, and the destroyer is at single figure shield integrity...

Like I said, one sweet read...

Will read your other offerings over the hol, maybe you could do the same for me...

[Gandalf The White]

Very nice Merc! I've been wondering wher you'd got to lol.

[THESPEEKER]

Merc had to make sure we were left with a good cliffhanger,
and he's probably gonna leave us another week on the edge of our seats
for the next part

Exellent read Merc nice to see Tor in another Battle for life,
Whats on the other side of the gate?
I'm just dying to Know please PM me the answer
i won't tell Honest

[Epiphany]

Good read merc! Keep it up (That means give us another installment ASAP)

[ennokT]

Very nice read! Keep it up.

[Gandalf The White]

wonder if it's the core sectors??

[Mercenary]

Cheers all,




Part 2, still on the short side but just to put your minds at rest following the occassional cliffhanger ending.



Merc.

[skullhead]

*Goes mad with anticipation* AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *Runs and jumps out of the window*

[KiwiNZ]

Excellent second part, though short. But you noticed that yourself

Well, looks like he is in a bit of trouble again. One can only hope he manages to repair the ship in time. Brennan didn't quite make it

Looking forward to the next part!

"If you're gonna die, die with you suit on. Isn't that how it goes?" - your?

"Split?" Tor gave a half hearted shrug, "Sounds like one of that arrogant race has had his just deserts. "All I need to know is how he got here?"

[therjw]

good read so they found the dragon I wonder if they will see the Hydra

[Epiphany]

Enough with the cliffhangers

[Maranno]

Man, this story keeps getting better every time I read it, keep it up Merc.

[Gandalf The White]

oops, he's got a problem lol.

Nice read by the way.