Read Online Democracy 1: Democracy's Right by Christopher Nuttall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christopher Nuttall
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She ought to be using her command codes to purge the superdreadnaught’s databases, or even trigger the self-destruct, but she was too scared to think clearly. And, without her command codes, no one else on the squadron could render the ships useless. “Where can we go?”
Jeremy looked down at the main display. The transports were still decanting their troops, but it was clear to him that they would be too late. By the time they had their troops loaded into shuttles and dispatched to the superdreadnaughts, they would be in enemy hands. Even so, if he could get Stacy to a shuttle, he could get her to one of the transports and they could escape...
A treacherous thought floated through his mind. Did he have to get Stacy to a shuttle? The thought of abandoning her on the superdreadnaught was tempting, all the more so because his career was over anyway. The Imperial Navy would court-martial him for gross incompetence and the fact that it had been Stacy, not him, who had issued the orders wouldn't cut any ice with them at all. And that was if he was lucky. If he was unlucky, Stacy’s family would ensure that the rest of his life would be on a penal world; nasty, brutish and short.
And, even if he saved her life, he didn't think that she would be grateful.
“We can go to the transports,” he said, taking a second look at the display. The Observation Squadron, whatever had happened to it, had retreated out of firing range, preventing the superdreadnaughts from destroying their tormentors before it was too late. “They’re already spinning up their drives and preparing to flicker out. We can get onboard, flee this system and return with reinforcements.”
Stacy looked up at him. It took him a second to realise that, under the bluster, she was absolutely terrified. She was so scared that she was barely able to move, clinging onto the command chair as if it was the only security in an uncertain world. Sweat streaked her face as she looked away, ashamed of her own weakness.
“And then...?” She asked, so quietly that he could barely hear her. “What happens then?”
Jeremy opened his mouth to reply, but the bridge darkened suddenly, confirming that the engineering compartment had fallen to the intruders. He checked his terminal and swore as he realised that power – and control – was being rerouted, leaving the bridge operating on emergency power only. The background hum of the drive, so ever-present that he had long ago grown used to feeling it in his bones, started to ebb away. His ship was dying.
“We need to move,” he snapped. He reached for her arm and pulled her out of the command chair, even though he had never dared to touch her before. “Come on...”
A dull thump echoed outside the main hatch and Stacy froze. The intruders were right outside. Jeremy looked up, towards the access hatch to the internal tubes, which would allow them a second means of escape...if Stacy had the presence of mind to use it. It was too late. Before he could say, or do, anything, the communications officer touched the emergency release and the hatch jumped open. Four armoured figures strode into the compartment, weapons primed and ready.
“I’ll give you anything,” Stacy said. Jeremy realised in a sudden burst of amusement that she was pleading with their captors. “I can give you money or power or anything you want, just let me go unharmed and I will give you anything and...”
The armoured figure stunned her, leaving her body to fall against Jeremy and then crash to the deck. A moment later, Jeremy was stunned too. His last thought was of home...and of a family he hadn't seen in years, ever since he had joined the Imperial Navy.
***
Neil looked down at Commodore Roosevelt and shook his head, not bothering to conceal his disgust. The girl – and she was almost as young as she looked, he knew – had
Jeremy looked down at the main display. The transports were still decanting their troops, but it was clear to him that they would be too late. By the time they had their troops loaded into shuttles and dispatched to the superdreadnaughts, they would be in enemy hands. Even so, if he could get Stacy to a shuttle, he could get her to one of the transports and they could escape...
A treacherous thought floated through his mind. Did he have to get Stacy to a shuttle? The thought of abandoning her on the superdreadnaught was tempting, all the more so because his career was over anyway. The Imperial Navy would court-martial him for gross incompetence and the fact that it had been Stacy, not him, who had issued the orders wouldn't cut any ice with them at all. And that was if he was lucky. If he was unlucky, Stacy’s family would ensure that the rest of his life would be on a penal world; nasty, brutish and short.
And, even if he saved her life, he didn't think that she would be grateful.
“We can go to the transports,” he said, taking a second look at the display. The Observation Squadron, whatever had happened to it, had retreated out of firing range, preventing the superdreadnaughts from destroying their tormentors before it was too late. “They’re already spinning up their drives and preparing to flicker out. We can get onboard, flee this system and return with reinforcements.”
Stacy looked up at him. It took him a second to realise that, under the bluster, she was absolutely terrified. She was so scared that she was barely able to move, clinging onto the command chair as if it was the only security in an uncertain world. Sweat streaked her face as she looked away, ashamed of her own weakness.
“And then...?” She asked, so quietly that he could barely hear her. “What happens then?”
Jeremy opened his mouth to reply, but the bridge darkened suddenly, confirming that the engineering compartment had fallen to the intruders. He checked his terminal and swore as he realised that power – and control – was being rerouted, leaving the bridge operating on emergency power only. The background hum of the drive, so ever-present that he had long ago grown used to feeling it in his bones, started to ebb away. His ship was dying.
“We need to move,” he snapped. He reached for her arm and pulled her out of the command chair, even though he had never dared to touch her before. “Come on...”
A dull thump echoed outside the main hatch and Stacy froze. The intruders were right outside. Jeremy looked up, towards the access hatch to the internal tubes, which would allow them a second means of escape...if Stacy had the presence of mind to use it. It was too late. Before he could say, or do, anything, the communications officer touched the emergency release and the hatch jumped open. Four armoured figures strode into the compartment, weapons primed and ready.
“I’ll give you anything,” Stacy said. Jeremy realised in a sudden burst of amusement that she was pleading with their captors. “I can give you money or power or anything you want, just let me go unharmed and I will give you anything and...”
The armoured figure stunned her, leaving her body to fall against Jeremy and then crash to the deck. A moment later, Jeremy was stunned too. His last thought was of home...and of a family he hadn't seen in years, ever since he had joined the Imperial Navy.
***
Neil looked down at Commodore Roosevelt and shook his head, not bothering to conceal his disgust. The girl – and she was almost as young as she looked, he knew – had
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