The Forbidden Wilds III: An Inevitable War Read online

  • • •

  “I have a ship directly ahead of us moving at a slower speed.”

  “Link me with the information you have on that ship.”

  “I’ve located the data. His thruster frequency gives away who he is.” Barry stared at the ship as the information on the pilot was sent over the link from his computer. Barry accelerated at high-speed and he moved in on the ship with a huge closing speed. “Keep us clear, Chimes!”

  “No other ship is in position to attack us.”

  Barry rushed in on the ship and Barry turned the bow slightly higher as the ship moved into range. The ship went vertical and Barry had the cursor ahead of the move. He pressed the firing button and the ship turned red on the monitor. Barry shook his head; this pilot always went vertical to escape.

  “I have a ship moving in behind us at a higher closing speed!”

  Barry looked at the tactical monitor and saw a ship high above him moving in the opposite direction. He went vertical as the ship behind him started closing in. The ship above Barry saw the approaching ship pursuing Barry and fired a defense missile at it. The closing speed was incredible, and the pursuer couldn’t evade. It turned red and was out of the competition.

  Barry had whipped the ship around and fired a missile below the ship that had taken out the pursuer. The pilot dove and ran into the missile Barry launched. “Thanks Chimes. He always dives after he fires at another ship. He ran right into it.”

  “I’m detecting Belle’s thruster frequency far below us.”

  “Keep us away from her until the herd is thinned. Pick another target.”

  A circle appeared on the tactical monitor and Barry saw two ships moving across the bow. They were currently out of range, but Chimes moved the blaster cursor ahead of them and when it turned red, Barry fired the blaster taking out the front ship. Chimes launched a defense missile the exact moment Barry fired the blaster and the pursuing ship was hit and out of the competition.

  The ship suddenly accelerated at maximum thrusters and Barry saw two ships pass behind him. “Thanks Chimes.”

  “Another target directly below us. I’ve got the pilot’s data on the link.” Barry smiled and turned the ship.

  • • •

  The only thing that prevented Belle from being eliminated from the competition was the backward missiles and Ringie’s mastery of maneuvering the ship. He could do things with the gravity drives that seemed impossible. He actually managed to fly between two defense missiles by increasing speed fast enough for them to miss hitting them. Belle was totally defensive for the first four hours of the competition and knew that other pilots had been able to figure out what ship she was in. She was a target with a huge bull’s-eye. But the numbers in the competition were being reduced a lot faster than she thought possible. She was later told that the pilots attacking her had set themselves up and were being eliminated quickly.

  By noon, only forty-six ships remained in the competition. “Barry, I’ve noticed something that Belle is doing.”

  “What is that?”

  “She has evidently loaded the missiles in one of her tubes backward. She ejects them and they launch toward any ships pursuing her.”

  “What a novel idea! We should have figured that out and used it ourselves.”

  “You know I don’t have her computer’s experience.”

  “You’re still doing a great job. The pickings are getting more and more difficult. I think it’s time for the Sitting Duck.”

  Barry’s ship came to a stop and Chimes had the forward and rear gravity drives at full power offsetting each other equally. The ship sat stationary and two ships flashed in at high speed. Barry reversed thrust of the forward gravity drive and the small ship flew away at an incredible speed leaving the two ships rushing in with nothing to attack. However, Barry launched two defense missiles before the ship accelerated away and both ships were hit before they detected the missiles. Two more out of the competition.

  • • •

  By three in the afternoon, the numbers of survivors was down to eighteen and they began pairing off to attack each other. Belle dispatched the pilot that took her on easily and then flashed in on two ships and took them out before they detected her approach. They were too focused on their opponent and paid the price for not paying attention.

  • • •

  There were only three survivors at seven p.m. and Barry had Belle moving in behind him. He searched the tactical monitor and found the third survivor high above them. He whipped the ship toward it and went to full speed. The third ship turned and went to full speed head-on toward Barry. Just as Belle moved into firing range, Barry suddenly went vertical and Ringie said loudly, “The ship ahead of us just fired a missile; we can’t avoid it!”

  Belle fired the last of her forward defense missiles and yelled, “ABOVE OR BELOW?!”

  “Slightly below!”

  Belle lowered the ship’s bow slightly and then went full speed vertical. She smiled as she saw the attacker’s ship turn red but then she heard an alarm and saw her ship was red on the monitor. She was out of the competition. She searched the main monitor and saw that only one ship remained. She blew out a breath and heard, “The final three ships will remain in place until they’re ordered to return to the spaceport.”

  Barry appeared on her monitor and Belle frowned. “I’ve checked with Fleet and we’re allowed to communicate now.”

  “Barry, how did you do this?”

  “Where’s the congratulations and high-fives?”

  “Barry?!”

  “I loaded everything I found on the pilots involved in the competition into my computer. You know that after every competition, the recordings were on line until the next morning.”

  “No, I didn’t know that.”

  “It says so right on the Fleet’s website. How did you miss it?”

  “Perhaps I didn’t look!”

  “Any way, I had the pilot’s tendencies loaded into Chimes and each time we faced one of them he would give them to me over our link.”

  “Chimes?”

  “That’s what I named my computer. Anyway, I noticed that you defeated two head-on missiles by either going vertical or diving based on the missile’s location. Once I pulled away from you, I whipped around and fired two missiles above your ship; the missile approaching you was slightly below your ship. I was fortunate and you turned right into them.”

  “Just how were you able to determine what pilot you were facing?!”

  “I had Chimes examine the passive scanner recordings done in every competition and he downloaded the thruster frequencies of every ship and matched them up to the pilot’s tendencies.”

  “Don’t you ever sleep?!”

  Barry laughed, “I had to work long hours in the Academy to make the grades. I can get by on less than three hours sleep.”

  “So, you won by outsmarting everyone?”

  “I guess. I think I won because I outworked them.”

  The speakers announced, “The three finalists will report to the spaceport and land in front of the Academy.”

  As they approached the landing pad, Belle asked, “How were you and your computer able to develop your link?”

  “I’ve lived in my ship since I started warship training. I’ve stayed on the ship every night during the Fall Maneuvers. We grew closer over that time.”

  “Belle, I’ve scanned his ship and his computer link is four times faster than normal; they almost match our speed.”

  Belle shook her head, “It’s like he said; he worked harder to win. I went in thinking I knew everything and it’s clear I didn’t.”

  • • •

  The three final survivors were congratulated, and the third-place pilot was awarded a bronze metal in the shape of the Milky Way. Belle was awarded the silver galaxy and Barry won the Gold Galaxy. He stood at attention as Admiral Glennon pinned it to his uniform and Belle saw Jingle looking at her. Belle tilted her head and Jingle nodded toward Barry and gave
her a thumbs-up. Belle smiled and saw Alex was also beaming at her.

  • • •

  Finally, all the speeches were given, and the band stopped playing. The huge crowd broke up and Barry turned to Belle, “In all the excitement, I’ve forgotten to wish you a happy birthday.”

  Belle went up on her toes, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Barry was surprised but not for long. He pulled her close and the kiss was wonderful. Belle stepped back and said, “Barry, will you marry me?”

  Barry’s smile was huge as he answered, “Yes, but not right now.”

  “WHY NOT?!”

  “Because I’ve been deprived of really getting to know you and I’m not going to allow that to happen. We will make sure that you really love me and that you can live with me before we get married. However…” Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. He went to a knee and smiled, “Belle Julia Berringer, will you marry me?”

  Belle’s hands went to her face and Barry smiled, “I think you’ve already given me your answer, but I need your hand now.” Belle extended her left-hand and Barry slipped the ring on. Belle went back into his arms as Alex and Jingle walked up.

  “When?” Alex asked.

  “Barry insists we need to take some time to really get to know each other and I’ve agreed.”

  Jingle smiled, “I think that’s an excellent suggestion.”

  Belle smiled, “I do too, but I’m going to live with him until he’s ready.” Barry’s head went back, and Belle smiled, “What better way is there to get to know each other?”

  “We don’t know if we’ll be stationed together Belle.”

  “I don’t think that’s an issue,” Jingle said looking at Alex. “Is it?”

  Alex shook his head, “Every Admiral in Fleet wants you.”

  “But you outrank all of them but one.” Jingle turned to Belle, “And I’m reasonably sure you can convince him to assign you to Bucket.”

  Belle giggled, “I’ll go see him tonight.”

  Alex shook his head and knew Mike was out of his league. But this time he was wrong.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Alex listened to Mike on the monitor and didn’t question what he was saying. Mike listed all the reasons why he couldn’t allow Belle and Barry to be stationed on Bucket. Alex simply nodded to each reason and remained silent. Finally, Mike ran down and said, “I expected you to resist me on this.”

  “Mike, you allowed Belle to enter the Academy at twelve against your better judgement and I owe you for that. I won’t fight you on this decision.”

  “But you believe I’m making a bad decision?”

  “I didn’t say that!”

  “No, but I can see you don’t like it.” Alex shrugged and Mike sat back in his chair, “If you were in my place, what would you do?”

  “Mike, if two fleet pilots were getting married and one of their home planets had a Union Fleet stationed on it, what would you normally do?”

  “This is not a normal situation, Alex.”

  “Neither was Belle entering the Academy at twelve. How did that work out for you?” Mike glared at Alex and Alex continued, “You didn’t follow normal protocol allowing her to go to the Academy and now, once again, you’re ignoring normal protocol to prevent them being stationed on Bucket.”

  “But you know I’ll be accused of playing favorites if I allow that?”

  “It’s protocol that allows you to show you’re not. If you treat them differently than you do all the other couples that marry, you’re allowing who they are to prevent them being treated normally.”

  “I thought you weren’t going to challenge me on this?”

  “Mike, you asked! Before you assign Belle to an Admiral, please name one that can shut her down and put her in her place.” Mike was silent and Alex added, “You know her Commander will worry that she’ll contact me and inform on her commander.”

  “Would she do that?”

  Alex raised a shoulder, “I doubt it, but they’ll worry about that happening and grow to hate having her around.” Alex paused and added, “And if you make the mistake of assigning them to two different fleets you very well could lose both of them.”

  Mike’s eyes narrowed, “Are you saying they’ll resign?!”

  “Do you remember young love, Mike? You wake up in the morning feeling it and go to sleep still intoxicated by it. That’s why Fleet stations newly married couples at the same planet. If they’re separated, they could very well resign from the service.”

  “Do you know that for a fact?”

  “I saw my daughter cry herself to sleep four days ago when you turned her down on sending them here. Barry told her that they would be together no matter what happened. You figure it out.”

  “Every Admiral in our fleets wants them!”

  “Mike, if you commanded a fleet, would you want either of them assigned to you?” Mike was silent as he thought about it and Alex continued, “They’d be getting one of the top-two winners of the Fall Maneuvers, but they’d also be getting a conduit straight into the Senior Fleet Commander’s ear. I for damn sure wouldn’t want to have to deal with that.”

  Mike nodded slightly, “No, I wouldn’t either.”

  “So, of course all of our Admirals will be clamoring for them but every one of them will release a collective sigh of relief when they don’t get them.”

  “Has their engagement been announced?”

  Alex shook his head, “Not yet.”

  “Then I’m going to make the announcement congratulating them and inform everyone that according to Fleet Protocol, they will be assigned to Bucket where a Union Fleet is stationed. I’ll encourage everyone to send their well wishes and see what happens.”

  “Mike, if anyone complains, simply ask them if they want you to violate fleet protocols. That should end it.”

  “Tell Belle I’m sorry I upset her.”

  “I think she was stunned that you didn’t agree with her.”

  “She didn’t know about the Fleet protocol covering this.”

  Alex chuckled, “She’d still be arguing with you if she did.”

  “I’m making the announcement this afternoon. They should be sent to Bucket tomorrow.”

  “Thanks Mike.”

  “I should be thanking you. This is the right thing to do and I shouldn’t have let what others think stop me from doing it.”

  The monitor went dark and Alex looked at Jingle sitting out of view of the monitor, “I think if you had resisted him at the start he wouldn’t have changed his mind.” Alex nodded. “I probably would have lost this argument.”

  “Jingle, you would have gone after him head on; this required the right tactics to bring him around.”

  “Are you going to tell Belle?”

  “No, I want Mike to do that with the announcement; he deserves the opportunity.”

  “How do you feel about them getting married?”

  Alex shook his head slightly, “If I had made a list of everything required of a husband for Belle, Barry would have checked every item and still added more to it. She’s made an outstanding choice. The most important thing is that he truly loves her.”

  “How do you know?”

  “He reminds me of the way I looked at you before we married. I still look at you that way.” Jingle melted and went into his arms.

  • • •

  Belle was waiting in a construction hangar on New York for Ringie to have all the training systems removed and replaced with live armaments. She was feeling down and looked up at a service tech as he walked by her and said, “Congratulations!”

  “Thank you.”

  Another civilian tech walked by and stopped, “Congratulations, when’s the date.”

  “What date?”

  “Haven’t you seen the announcement?”

  “What announcement?”

  “Check your communicator; it just came in over the main frequency.”

  Belle lifted her communicator and went to the main frequency
:

  “Admirals Alexander and Julia Jingle wish to announce the engagement of their daughter, Belle Berringer to Barry Bowen. Fleet extends the happy couple well wishes. They will be assigned to the Fleet on Bucket per Fleet Protocols and we know they will serve the Union proudly.”

  It was signed by Admiral Glennon. Her communicator vibrated and she accepted the contact. Barry appeared on it and saw her expression, “You’ve heard?!”

  “I just saw the announcement!”

  “Belle, this waiting I’ve insisted on is nuts. Let’s have the wedding as quickly as possible.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. I don’t feel right about living together; we should do this the right way.”

  “I’ll contact Mom and tell her. I’ll let you know what she says.”

  “I love you, Belle!”

  “And I love you, too.”

  • • •

  Mike looked at his console and saw Alex was attempting to contact him. He pressed the flashing red button and it turned green, “Good Day, Alex; what’s going on?”

  “I called you to ask the same thing. The LMC Aliens should have launched their attack long ago; do we know what’s causing the delay?”

  “They’re having manpower issues.”

  Alex’s head went back slightly, “Manpower issues?”

  “Our probes have intercepted messages issued by the new Kraken that any leader not ready on time would be executed.”

  “Then that should have made them speed up!”

  Mike smiled, “It appears they’ve built far more small stealth warships than they have crews to fly them. The one commanding them has stopped constructing the small ships because that would only delay him further; he doesn’t have enough crews to man the ones he’s completed.”

  Alex shook his head, “I don’t understand why that is an issue.”

  “Well, it appears it takes too many of those aliens to fly each of the small ships.”

  “That’s crazy!”

  Mike chuckled, “I thought the same thing, but those aliens aren’t exactly built to fly a ship, even a small one.”

  “What do you mean they aren’t built to fly a ship; they’re flying hundreds of thousands of the large battleships?”