THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 2339 words) [2/15] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 07 2016	Views/Reads: 1719/1280	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 2 - CH 2

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“At our present speed and on our present course it will take one week,
Bridge Officer,” the Computer told him. 

Blaze considered this. “A week? That's too long. Increase speed,” he
ordered. 

“Ah, we're already travelling at maximum speed,” the Computer told him. 

“Can't we go any faster?” 

“I'm afraid not.” 

“Suppose we get rid of some stuff – make the Ship lighter?” 

“Any suggestions?” 

“How about Miller!?” Blaze said, laughing. 

Corthan fought to suppress a snigger, as did the Computer. 

“I'm afraid that wouldn't make any difference.” 

“Then how about--” 

“The forward scanner has just picked up a Ship approaching!” the
Computer interrupted. 

Blaze sat upright. “Lock in!” he ordered himself and obeyed. “What kind
of Ship is it?” he asked. 

The Computer couldn't resist. “A bloody big one!” it told him. 

Corthan laughed and sat up. “How far away is it?” he asked. 

“Fifteen space miles,” the Computer replied. 

“Any information?” 

“It's a Fleet Ship, Executive Class.” 

Blaze considered this. “Engage Cloaker,” he ordered. He had heard Kane
saying this and it sounded good. 

“Disregard,” said Corthan, strolling over to the observation screen. 

“I already have,” replied the Computer. 

“It's a Fleet Ship,” Corthan explained to Blaze. “We're on the same
side.” 

“Oh. Okay.” 

“Put the Ship on Screen on close up,” Corthan told the Computer. 

The Observation Screen instantly changed and showed a close-up of the
Executive Ship which was smaller than a Battle Cruiser but faster and 
with less weaponry. 

Corthan stared at it then turned to Blaze. “Go and wake Kane,” he told
him. 

Blaze stood up, grinned and saluted. “Aye aye, skipper!” he said and
dematerialized. 

A few minutes later Kane strolled on to the Bridge. He took in the scene
instantly. “Distance to the Exec Ship?” he asked, taking his seat. 

“Ten space miles.” 

“Have they shown any interest in us yet?” 

“Not so far.” 

Kane turned to Blaze. “Wake the others,” he told him. 

Blaze nodded and dematerialized again. 

“Expecting trouble?” Corthan asked. 

“It's a Fleet Ship. Tyler's in charge of the Fleet. Do you trust Tyler?”


“Understood,” said Corthan. He stared at the Screen. “They might just
signal us at this time in the morning.” 

Kane settled back in his chair. “Hopefully,” he said “but we'll soon
see.” 

***** 

On the Bridge of the Serval, the First Officer was studying them on
their Observation Screen. “Information?” he asked their Computer. 

“Fleet Ship. Falcon Class. Markings RX115C,” it replied. 

The Officer was too tired for the polite formalities of a
Screen-to-Screen greeting, anyway it was obviously a Fleet Ship outward 
bound on yet another of Earth's endless missions. 

“Exchange signals,” he ordered the Computer and settled back in his
chair to await the reply. 

“The Executive Ship Serval has requested identification through Fleet
codes,” announced the Computer on the Falcon. 

“Give them it,” Kane ordered, “and request theirs.” 

As the signals were being passed, the others arrived on the Bridge and
Kane quickly explained the situation to them as they sat at their 
consoles. 

“All weapons on standby,” Sinto told him. 

Kane nodded. “It's their move.” 

They waited tensely as the signals passed between the two Ships. 

“They're satisfied with our signal!” the Computer announced. “They say
good hunting.” 

“They've bought it!” Sinto said, grinning. 

“So far,” Kane agreed. “Tell them we wish it was us returning to Earth,”
he ordered the Computer. 

Sinto was rising from his chair, convinced the danger was over, when
Kane waved him back. 

“Hang on,” he said. “Give them a bit longer. I don't trust these
bastards.” 

As the two Ships were passing each other, the Captain of the Serval came
on to the Bridge. The First Officer gave his report and mentioned the 
Fleet Falcon, outbound from Earth. 

The Captain glanced at the Screen and nodded. “Signals passed?” 

“Yes sir. No problems. Codes identified.” 

“Okay, stand down.” 

The First Officer saluted and left just as the morning messages were
deposited in the Captain's tray. After checking their position and 
course he settled down to read them. When he came to Tyler's message 
his eyes flicked back to the screen. 

“Close up on that Fleet Falcon we've just passed,” he ordered. 

RX115C flashed closer on the Observation Screen. The Captain checked the
markings on the print out. He beckoned the Weapons Officer and handed 
him the sheet. The Officer read it then looked at the Ship they'd just 
passed. 

“Sound full alert,” the Captain ordered calmly. “It's a stolen Fleet
Ship. Let's take them.” 

Kane saw it on the screen as the Computer announced it. 

“Exec Ship changing course. Heading back towards us,” it said. 

“Do we run or fight?” Sinto asked. 

“Fight,” Kane replied. “She's all yours.” He turned to Talis. “Take over
piloting from the Computer,” he ordered. 

Sinto grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Lock in everybody!” he
yelled. “Time for some fun with the Fleet!” 

Just then they were buffeted by some laser fire from the Serval and
Sinto roared with laughter. 

“Shields up,” Kane ordered the Computer. 

“Shields are up,” it replied. 

“Begin zigzag course and take us up in a wide arc,” Sinto ordered Talis.
“Drop half a dozen Cluster Bombs,” he ordered the Computer. 

The Falcon curved upwards as Talis carried out his order and a trail of
white Cluster Bombs billowed out in its wake forcing the closing Serval 
to veer away. 

The Cluster Bombs were exploding erratically and the Serval flew under
them then arrowed upwards trying to get behind the Falcon. 

“Sporadic laser fire,” the Captain ordered. 

Sinto could see the blue beams heading towards them and he rapped out
orders to Talis and they easily avoided them, buffeted slightly as the 
lasers were deflected by their Shields. 

Kane was sitting in the Captain's chair, a half-smile on his rugged
face, watching him. “You're playing with them, you bastard!” he said. 

Sinto grinned, the lightning bolt tattoos on his cheeks creasing. “Damn
right!” he said. “We can out gun, out run and out manoeuvre them. We 
owe the Fleet one.” 

Kane settled back to watch. Continuing to bark out orders to the
Computer and Talis, Sinto had the Serval chase them around awhile, 
easily avoiding their fire and returning enough so they didn't get 
suspicious. 

“What's the plan?” Kane asked. 

“We use the Cloaker then take them,” Sinto replied. 

“Executive Ships have Anti-Cloakers,” said Kane. “They'll see us.” 

Sinto grinned. “Yeah, I know.” He turned to Muslik, Corthan and Miller.
“You three get down to the Exit Bay. Lash two escape pods together and 
stand by to launch them. Blaze – go with them. Get back up here and 
tell me when they're done.” 

Muslik nodded and he and the others quickly left the Bridge. Blaze had
already gone. 

“This is when the real fun starts,” Sinto said to Kane. “Keep zigzagging
to avoid their laser fire until Blaze gets back,” he told Talis. 

A couple of minutes later Blaze materialized beside him. “Pods are
lashed together and ready to go,” he said. 

Sinto grinned and ruffled his hair. “Stop zigzagging and give them a
clear shot as soon as we engage the Cloaker,” he ordered Talis. 

She nodded. 

“When the Cloaker's engaged, hold our position for fifteen seconds then
when the Cloaker's disengaged, you shoot us up and round behind them.” 

Kane laughed. “Blaze – get back down and tell Muslik to release the
pods.” 

Blaze saluted and vanished. Shortly afterwards he was back. “Pods
released.” 

Sinto grinned. “Engage Cloaker,” he ordered the Computer. 

On the Serval, the Captain watched another burst of laser fire streaking
towards them then the Falcon disappeared from their screens. 

“So, they're using their Cloaker,” he said, smiling. “Think they're
invisible do they? Engage Anti-Cloaker,” he ordered their Computer. The 
Anti-Cloaker drained tremendous power and only Exec Ships had them. 

Although the Falcon was now invisible to ordinary scanners, the
Anti-Cloaker would indicate its position on a small monitor in front of 
the Captain. He flicked it on and saw the small green dot which 
represented the Falcon. 

“Computer – lock into the Anti-Cloaker,” he ordered. 

“Locking in,” it replied. 

“Do you have the target?” 

“Affirmative.” 

“Engage all lasers.” 

“Lasers engaged.” 

“Fire.” 

Empty space erupted in orange and yellow flame as the combined laser
fire of the Serval found its target. Debris scattered all around and 
for a few seconds the darkness was lit up by fierce burning flames then 
they died away and there was only some drifting smoke and wreckage. 
Cheering rang round the Bridge of the Serval. 

“Congratulations Captain!” the Weapons Officer said. 

The Captain smiled. “Congratulate the Anti-Cloaker, not me,” he said,
standing up and shaking hands with a few of the Bridge crew. 
“Anti-Cloaker off,” he ordered the Computer. “Resume course for Earth,” 
he told his Pilot. 

The Captain settled back in his chair as they swung round 180 degrees.
Just as they completed their turn, the Falcon slid on to their 
Observation Screen. 

“Fire!!” ordered Sinto. 

The Serval's Captain died with a stunned look on his face as his Ship
erupted in a bright red and yellow explosion. It too burned fiercely 
for a minute then it was gone, leaving smoking debris in the blackness 
of space. 

Sinto and the others strolled over and looked at the Screen. Some
smouldering metal was floating off, the only sign that a battle had 
taken place. 

“Worth the sacrifice of a couple of escape pods?” Sinto asked. 

Kane nodded. “It's just a pity that Tyler hadn't been on that Exec
Ship,” he said. “Return piloting to the Computer,” he told Talis. He 
turned to Miller. “When we clear the area check for any damage to the 
Ship.” 

Miller grinned and gave him the thumbs up. 

The Fleet had just lost a very expensive Executive Ship and her crew
because of the earlier message sent out by Tyler, all part of his plan 
to ensure that he and The Inner Council were protected should anything 
go wrong on the mission. 

As the Falcon resumed its course across space at maximum speed and the
outside of the hull began to heat slightly, another part of his plan 
took place - exactly two days after they left Earth, all the Fleet 
markings began to peel silently off the Ship and drifted away behind 
it. 

The Falcon was now just another unmarked Ship travelling onwards through
space. 


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