Death Ship - SDD Five, Part One

A figure sat alone in a dark corner of a bar. There was something about the figure. No one seemed to notice that he was there. Music played and people talked and laughed and the figure remained motionless. The bright lights flashed all around, but none seems to penetrate the dark corner.
At exactly midnight two men entered the bar. Each wore a decorative eyepiece. Without hesitation they went to the dark corner. They sat on either side of the figure. Matthew Bushman spoke first, “Well Klisaz I see you are using a standard issue sensor depriver.”
“Our engineers are quite proud of this device,” the figure answered with a metallic twang in its voice.
“I bet,” Alan Erskine added, “how else would an eight foot tall four armed Takelvee agent be able to walk into a bar in Chicago.”
“May we please get to the business at hand? My superiors are waiting.”
“OK, Klisaz,” Matthew answered, “It’s your show.”
“I happened to be in a position to overhear a conversation between several of your defense directorate officers. They were discussing your recent acquisition.”
“And that would be?” Matthew asked.
“Oh come now Captain Bushman,” the alien twanged out, “that giant alien ship with the delightful name of Workforce is rather difficult to hide. You will one day have to tell me how you managed to find out the name of that ship so quickly. In any case, it has come to our attention that several of your officers have taken possession of the ship and they are taking it into Takelvee space.”
“So why tell us?” Alan asked. “If we have a few traitors willing to sell you our new find why let us know.”
“We have our reasons Colonel Erskine. You will find this information to be accurate. These officers of yours have already slipped out of the space dock at Tau Ceti Four. I am going to tell you something. I say this because we are of the same ilk, and I respect your work. I will, without hesitation, shoot you dead should the task require it, but I do respect your work. If this ship reaches Takelvee space the galaxy will explode in war. That’s not a threat, that is simply a statement of fact.”
“Why,” Alan demanded, “it’s one ship, big cumbersome and unarmed. What is the Takelvee Hegemony so afraid of?”
“We fear nothing.” Klisaz snarled, “I will tell you this. There is a point somewhere in space approximately four light years inside human space. We will not let that ship reach that point.”
“If you enter human space in force,” Matthew warned, “the directorate will stop you and turn you away.”
“And that’s when the war will start.” Klisaz announced. “I can say no more. If the directorate cannot stop that ship, we will.” The cloaked figure stood to its eight-foot size and calmly walked out of the bar. No one noticed his passing.

When Alan and Matthew returned to Space Intelligence headquarters, SPINTEL was in an uproar. Director Thomas Ramos called, “Erskine, Bushman, where the hell have you two been. Never mind, we have a crisis on our hands. It seems someone has wandered off with a giant alien ship right out from under the noses of the directorate. There will be some serious brass rattling over this one.”
“It was stolen by a group of directorate officers,” Matthew commonly announced, “and their taking it into Takelvee space.”
“What?” the director grumbled, “I haven’t heard about this. Where did you get this information?”
“Oh from a very reliable source.” Matthew mused, “It was from the Takelvee.”
Hearing that, the director dropped his palm computer. “Did you say the Takelvee?”
Alan cut in, “Well Mr. Ramos, Matthew and I just had a wee bit of a talk with Klisaz.”
That got their boss’ attention, “You mean the Takelvee’s number one operative. He just strolled up and started passing the time of day?”
“Not quite Mr. Ramos,” Matthew answered, “he asked for a meeting. Its seems he had a bit of interesting news.”
“Did he gloat about stealing the ship out from under our noses?”
“On the contrary,” Alan answered, “it seems the Takelvee are rather beside themselves about this situation. They demand that we stop that ship before it reaches someplace four light years on our side of the border. They say if we don’t stop that ship before then, that they will come across the border in force and hunt the ship down themselves.”
“The directorate would never stand for that. They would be stopped.” Ramos said flatly.
“Then, according to Klisaz, it would be all out war.” Matthew retorted.
“Why?” Ramos asked, “Why go to war over one unarmed ship.”
“Klisaz wouldn’t say, we were hoping you could give us some answers.”
“Well I can’t.” Ramos grumbled. “Whoever took that ship wiped out all of the analysis records and data on it before they left. They were quite thorough.”
“Then were totally in the dark.” Matthew said.
“Not quite. The original discoverers of the ship are on S.D.D. Raven. The ship is assigned to line duty in the Reliant battle group. I believe this is priority enough to get Raven pulled from line duty to assist us in this. S.D.D. Righteous will be moving up for line duty; you can catch a ride with her and transfer to Raven on the line. I’m sure, Matthew, that your father wouldn’t mind the company. We must keep this quiet. Those are the orders. No communication on this subject over the open nets.”
“Why,” Alan commented, “the Takelvee clearly know all about it.”
“But the rest of the Federation doesn’t,” Ramos answered, “The directorate would like to save a little face.”

S.D.D. Raven cruised its patrol lane at the edge of human space. It’s new dragon class sensors probed for activity on the other side. It wasn’t long before they found it. Captain Merriel had just been called away from the bridge to receive a bravo level communication when Amy Zero picked up the signals. Commander Valerie Olson was in the command chair. Amy called to her, “Commander, I have four Takelvee Crezark class destroyers maneuvering just outside our space. It looks like their doing a pre-incursion sweep.”
Valerie went into action. “All stations go to threat condition beta. Everyone look sharp now. Amy; mark their location, and then expand your sweep as far into Takelvee space as possible. Sacrifice precision for range. I want to know if there is a strike force out there.”
Next she called over to Steve Delms at communication, “Steve; send out a POS-INC alert to the battle group. Let me know when we get an acknowledgment from the Reliant.”
Valerie buzzed the Captain’s ready room, “Captain, you better come to the bridge. We may have a possible incursion in the making.”

Captain Merriel entered the bridge in the midst of a flurry of activity. He called to his executive officer and he took his place in the command chair. “OK Valerie, what’s going on?”
“Sir, four Takelvee Crezark destroyers are executing what appears to be a pre-incursion sweep of section omega six. I have sent a ‘Possible Incursion’ message to Reliant and we have received an acknowledgment. Extended sensor data show . . .”
“It shows a strike force of at least two battle groups. Am I right Commander?”
“You are correct Captain,” Valerie was amazed, “how did you know?”
“I was just talking to SPINTEL and to directorate HQ. They want Raven to work with SPINTEL. It seems someone has made off with the alien ship Workforce.”
“Someone had stolen Workforce!” Valerie was shocked and instantly angry. After what she had gone through on that alien ship she almost felt like something was stolen from her personally. “Who? How?”
We have two SPINTEL agents to be transferred from S.D.D. Righteous. They’ll fill us in at that time. We are to transfer to Righteous for a directorate briefing before the agents join us on Raven. It will give you a chance to see that fire brand friend of yours, Commander Franklin.”
Valerie smiled, “She’s a ripper, but she has found a home as first officer on Righteous. Captain, what does this have to do with the Takelvee activity?”
“SPINTEL said that the Takelvee were all upset about this ship possibly entering their space. They seem to be threatening total war if it isn’t stopped, and from the looks of things, they aren’t bluffing.”
While Valerie pondered the situation Amy called to the captain, “Captain, the Takelvee destroyers are crossing the line. They’re on a direct course for Filas. It looks like they plan to either jam or destroy the monitoring station there. They still don’t know that our dragon sensors make that station obsolete.”
Valerie reminded the captain, “But we have twenty-seven people at that station.”
“And they won’t go unprotected.” Matthew Merriel announced.
Then he called to Tom Flattery at helm, “Flank speed Tom.”
Valerie went to communications, “Steve, get a situation report out to the battle group right now.”
She then turned to the captain; “Of course you know that they are trying to pull us to Filas so that the main force can cross the line someplace else.”
“Of course,” Matthew Merriel replied, “that’s why I expect little help from the battle group. I think we’re on our own on this one. Any suggestions?”
Valerie thought as Raven raced toward its first encounter with the Takelvee.

Valerie went to Amy Zero at the sensor control station. “Amy, what is the Takelvee’s main strike force up to?”
“Nothing Commander, they’re holding position just inside their space.”
Valerie addressed Captain Merriel, “Captain, I suggest we set course for the outpost in the Filas system, and not an intercept course to the Takelvee.”
Matthew Merriel looked at his executive officer, “Commander, if the Takelvee speed up they may reach the outpost before we do.”
“Captain, my bet is that they will not speed up. In fact I believe they will slow down. SPINTEL said that the Takelvee would take care of things if we couldn’t. Well we haven’t had a chance to take care of things yet. The Takelvee are ruthless but they do keep their word, at least in the short term. I believe the destroyers will hold position inside the Filas system. It is a statement that they do mean business. If we take position to defend the outpost, but not threaten them, they will not attack.”
“Not good enough.” Matthew Merriel said firmly. “They’ve invaded our space. They will not be allowed to establish a position in the Filas system, not on my watch. We will set course for the outpost. If they enter the system, we will order them to leave. If they don’t we will drive them out. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.” Valerie answered.
Captain Merriel was now angry, “Steve get back on the link, and get me Admiral Baylock on the Reliant. Diversion or not, the Takelvee will not take that system.”