Alpha One - Chris Burton [88]
“Carla is everything okay? You went a little cold on me.”
Carla smiled and apologized. “I am sorry Jake. I have a lot on my mind. I don’t want to lose Joely again, and now I am here and she is probably already en route to the Tri-Star region. Maybe I should be with her?”
She sought approval and Jake knew better than to put her off. It was best to humor her, but ignore her and hope that she didn’t try anything stupid like turn the ship around.
“Okay, let’s get this ship back on the space way and get ourselves home.” The strategy worked. Carla joined Jake in the cockpit and helped him to set up the NAVCOM.
The remainder of the journey was straightforward enough. Jake’s priority clearance allowed a swift re-entry and landing. Carla agreed with her father that she would keep the yacht and use it to return home at Christmas. She already rented temporary hangar space and maintenance services at the space port.
They spent a brief period of intimacy before departing the yacht and then took the sub rail together to the main campus and made their way to the academies main entrance. Even though the academic term had finished, the Academy remained open, with many students continuing their studies over the holiday period. Jake walked Carla to her apartment and they said their goodbyes, in public and without affection.
Jake walked on towards his own apartment. He missed her already.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Halo 7 In Battle
Commander Jonathan Hoskins was exhausted and so were his crew. The battle continued for over two weeks, but there were no further nuclear blasts and the dark ship capability was removed. Conventional weaponry gave Alpha battle supremacy. Shenke’s mini-fleet were engaged in one to one fighting with the rear section of the Sentinel fleet, twenty-four/seven. The fighting was fierce but the superior quality of Alpha vessels and the overall ability of their pilots was apparent. The mini-fleet took losses, while Alpha’s supply line to the rear of the Sentinel fleet became restricted. The Halo 7 took significant blast damage. Hoskins damage repair teams were constantly in demand.
The jump ships played a significant part and Obeya did a fantastic job as CAG. It’s about time someone told her, Hoskins thought. He left the bridge for only the second time in twenty-four hours and headed to the main hangar bay. Reinforcements were promised to the severely depleted Halo’s jump ship Fleet. It remained uncertain when they would arrive and likely he would have to suspend the Halo’s jump ship capability unless new ships and crew arrived soon.
Hoskins entered the hangar bay just as two damaged Sabres returned from their latest sortie. They were both hit by Sentinel blast cannons, but salvageable and would be back out within two hours. Hoskins watched as the two pilots dismounted and headed towards the CAG.
“Get those two into the repair bay, patch them up and make ready for launch in two hours.” Obeya was in control of her domain. She addressed the pilots. “Good work, you guys. Take four hours rest and then report for active duty.”
The two pilots looked disconsolate. Hoskins realized the morale was draining from his jump ship crews.
“Lieutenant Temsouri, what is the current flight status?” Hoskins walked forward and addressed Obeya directly and formally.
“We have six Rapiers on Sorties, two to come back in within the next thirty minutes, but no replacements until either the five Rapiers or the three Sabres in the repair bays are fixed. I can only send out what I can.”
A huge explosion rocked the hangar bay as flames engulfed one of the jump ship exit tunnels. The blast shields prevented the full force of the explosion entering the hangar, but not fumes and heat. Hoskins felt the skin burning on his face.
“Shut down exit five and shield up,” Obeya ordered. “Commander, sir,