Convoy Duty by Louis Shalako

Convoy Duty
     
    Louis Shalako
     
     
    Copyright 2014 Louis Shalako and Long
Cool One Books
     
     
    Design: J. Thornton
     
    ISBN 978-1-927957-56-1
     
     
    The following is a work of fiction. Any
resemblance to any person living or deceased, or to any places or
events, is purely coincidental. Names, places, settings, characters
and incidents are the product of the author’s
imagination.
     
    This ebook is licensed for your
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the hard work of this author.
     
    Table of Contents
     
    Scene One
     
    Scene Two
     
    Scene Three
     
    About Louis Shalako
     
     
     
     
     
    Convoy Duty
     
    Louis Shalako
     
     
    Scene One

     
    The tedium of a long voyage in deep
space was punctuated only by duty and the pressing bodily needs of
food, sleep and hygiene. On a small vessel, interior space was at a
premium, never more so than on a military ship. Boredom brought
problems, but they were manageable. The trip had been strictly
routine this far.
    Everyone agreed that was a good thing,
up to a point.
    Captain Jake Rhodes studied the
readout.
    Mayaguez was leaking heat and light like a sieve. They
were broadcasting all over the electromagnetic spectrum.
    He nodded at the communications
officer.
    “ Marko. Contact Mayaguez.
Ask them if they can possibly button it up a little.”
    The slender, blond and very young man
nodded wordlessly. He tapped it into his board.
    He looked up.
    “ Captain Esparza sends his
apologies, but he is understaffed and they are doing the best they
can.”
    “ Acknowledged. Ask him to
please make all efforts.”
    The young man put his head down again.
This time there was no relevant response.
    Jake avoided swearing when
applicable.
    The light cruiser Nike was engaged in
convoy duty.
    The passenger ship Albireo, the cargo
ships Maersk, Astron, Erika, Vega II,
Salem and the tanker Mayaguez were en route from Earth to
the embattled 55 Cancri system.
    Earth’s farthest
outpost, 55 Cancri was at the end of a very long supply chain. Its three million
human citizens aside, it was a strategic prize of incalculable
value. The closest point to rebel Confederation space, it must be
reinforced at all costs.
    The cargo was somewhat
essential to the survival of the colony’s civilian population, but
most of the shipment was intended to bolster the defense of the
planet Kepler. Ultimately, it would be a jumping-off point for the
reintegration of rebel space. The enemy could see that as
well. Albireo carried the Fourteenth Army Brigade, and as much of their
heavy equipment as could be jammed in. Some of the equipment was
scattered aboard other ships, wherever it could be fit in or even
lashed on to the outer hull in some cases.
    Cancri system had been raided twice by the Confederation.
    The object of the raids
was not conquest, merely subjugation. That was the spec. Cancri had few major
industries of her own, but if the small terrestrial planet Kepler
would simply cooperate, it would be a source of badly-needed
stores, military equipment and no doubt manpower.
    The Confederation had seceded from the
Empire. The act wasn’t exactly legal—even they didn’t claim that,
only that it was self-determination. Attempts to put down the
rebellion at such a long distance from Earth had only ended in
disaster with the minimal forces allotted.
    “ All routine so far,
sir.”
    Captain Rhodes nodded at his executive
officer, Commander Rick Allen.
    “ Yes. Let’s hope it stays
that way.”
    Barely a minute later, out
on the left flank, the frigate Draco blew up in a flash of
brilliant blue-white light.
    “ Jesus Christ! What in the
hell was that!”
    The