Alpha One - Chris Burton [141]
“Do you have resources working on that?”
“Yes, considerable resources. We also have the Nexus company and Dr. Cameron—who is, I understand, a leading expert in the field—working on this directly. Not easy within a battlefield environment, but once we find a way, we can take action immediately.”
“You will keep me updated on developments?”
“I presume you will continue to facilitate your funding line and you will back off from your political offensive against Alpha.”
“Very well, Admiral, I will back off. I think we need to work together on this.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Winterburn’s Escape
Within minutes of releasing Winterburn, eight of his Kryl drones were also released. They arrived unopposed in one of the smaller cargo bays on the lower hangar deck. There, primed and readied for takeoff, sat an Eagle Transport shuttle. Unlike the main hangars, it was quiet and all they needed to do was load up and take off. Winterburn was in no hurry. He waited for the Kryl mini-fleet to wreak havoc, then they would slip away unnoticed, and he would be back en route to the Queen’s ship.
* * * *
Hoskins was in his ready room watching his viewing screen. The Kryl fleet were in formation and had closed to within ten thousand meters. They were within his firing range, but his priority was to get the ship to the wormhole fissure as quickly as possible—but this was not his only problem. Winterburn was free, somewhere on the ship, together with a number of his compatriots, including Carla and Joely Stevenson. Winterburn used his powers to corrupt the two sisters first, and then his crew, in order to gain his freedom. Where he was, was anyone’s guess, but clearly his objective was to seek out a vessel and leave the ship.
Realistically he headed for one of four smaller hangar/cargo bays where his intention was to take a shuttle or an Eagle. Hoskins ordered Major De Vere to despatch troopers to each of the four cargo bays. He awaited De Vere’s report. He sent Enson Carter to join De Vere armed with a hypercannon. Carter could be of use in some way to free Carla Stevenson from Winterburn’s grip.
He had no idea whether his strategy would work. The Kryl could presumably take control of De Vere, his troopers and Carter, allowing them to free the ship without a fight. Hoskins may have to destroy the escapee’s ship to prevent them from fleeing further.
His thought processes were interrupted by Commander Jacques entering the ready room.
“Jonathan, the Kryl have commenced an attack. They are targeting our stellar drive.”
Hoskins leapt to his feet and headed for the bridge.
“Give me maximum power, everything we’ve got.”
“Should we launch jump ships?” asked Jacques.
“Negative. We are nearing the fissure. If we commit to a battle, we could lose everything.”
“With respect, sir, it’s a bit late for that.”
“Aft shields down to thirty percent.”
“One more hit, sir, and we will lose our shields; then they can take out our stellar drive at will.”
Hoskins admitted defeat, “Take the SD off line, bring us around and raise frontal shields to maximum. Mister Jacques, make ready with the plasma cannons and PBA, and ask the CAG to launch ten jump ships immediately.”
There were twenty-five Kryl ships in total, with twenty single-seater fighters, a battle cruiser and support vessels. The Kryl fighters broke their formation and swarmed the Halo 7, buffeting the whole ship with plasma weaponry and laser cannons. The Rapiers launched from the main cargo bay were in the thick of it immediately. The two Sabres stood back and waited for the Kryl to come to them, the idea being that they would pick the Kryl fighters off one by one as they came into range; this was standard defensive strategy.
Hoskins knew what he was doing, but was conscious that, somehow, he needed to turn this into an offensive against the Kryl. The solution came to Hoskins immediately. He would launch an attack on the battle cruiser with Sabres and teutonic missiles both, directly from the Halo 7’s torpedo tubes and the