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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowdancer" data-source="post: 2403729" data-attributes="member: 515">Chapter VIIIDate: 210-993Location: Aboard the Bray Keaven, approaching Kerin's Tyr Kevon, who was starting to plot the Donovan’s course, looks up in shock at Swann’s realization. "Ms. Smythe, put every erg of power you can into the drives; we need to stop these guys," the captain orders. "Mr. Kugiikishshi, transmit to the Botswann our theory and inform them that we’re pursuing the Donovan. "Emile, let’s catch these bastards." -----"On it, guys!" Martha replies, directing her attentions toward pushing the Bray Keaven as best as she can to maximize the ship’s performance. "I’ll give you all she can bear!" Under her breath, the young engineer continues. "Come on, baby — let’s see what you’ve got!" Her fingers fly as she strives to fulfill the captain’s orders. -----Vargas listens to Swann's theory and contemplates possible actions. Following the captain’s orders he immediately selects flank speed plus anything the drives can give. He follows the sensor images in an effort to outrun the Blue Donovan. He then says to Kevon, "Captain, let us consider what is going on here. In the first place, I do not think a sophant is flying that ship. The voice is too calm and the messages too precisely timed to be coming from a sophant. I think the computer is flying the ship and it is possibly aimed at the highport. "However, think about this. A single 200-dTon ship crashing into the highport will cause a bit of damage, but it will probably not be fatal to the installation. If that ship were loaded with explosives, especially nukes or anti-matter, it would probably destroy the highport and cause a great deal of collateral damage on the planetary surface from falling debris. "We may be able to disable the maneuver drives with missile or laser fire from a reasonable distance, but that would turn a ship under power into a hunk of metal hurtling into the highport. We may be faced with destroying that ship while maintaining a reasonably safe distance in the event we set off a real light show. "As I have said, I do not think the ship is manned by sophants but if it is, we are faced with the choice of the death of a few fanatics verses the death of hundreds if not thousands of innocent, unsuspecting individuals. "Another possibility is to disable the drives and nudge the ship into an orbit around the planet. "Whatever we decide to do, I need more speed. Is it possible to divert power from non-essential equipment to the drives and weapons?" Vargas now gives absolute concentration to the task of intercepting the Blue Donovan per the captain’s orders. -----Ian, sitting in the lounge drinking a cup of — something (he hasn’t figured out what it is yet) listens intently to the conversations over the comm. He jumps in with a short message. "If there is any area where I may be of assistance, I’d be glad to help!" He shakes his head and downs another gulp. After a few seconds, he flips the comm again. "How long do we have before impact? Is there enough time to board the ship and take control?" -----At the start of her acceleration, the Blue Donovan was 800,000 km from Kerin's Tyr. At 2G acceleration with no deceleration, Kevon calculates that the Blue Donovan will hit either Kerin's Tyr or Warne Highport 150.58 minutes from when she started her run, or approximately 45 minutes from now. The Blue Donovan's speed will be 177 km/s. Drawing upon his naval design knowledge, Kevon quickly guesstimates that the Blue Donovan will have an approximate loaded weight of 665 tons barring some sort of metallic cargo. Kevon blanches when he realizes the kinetic energy of the impact alone should roughly equal a 2.3-megaton nuclear weapon. -----Vasilii easily manages to link up with the Botswann given the reduced range and the new communications gear. After a look of horror and extensive swearing, some of which Vasilii hadn't heard before, the Hue Mercenary officer replies, "Oh frell, damn frell. We don’t have anything that is in a position to intercept and board the Blue Donovan. We might be able to scramble enough ships along with the Warne Highport's defensive systems to vaporize most of the Blue Donovan, but damn, I’m not so sure. I know that our chances for success would be even less if we didn’t have any warning. "If you can close in time, please try to board and divert the Blue Donovan since that’s the best chance of avoiding any damage. If you do board, we need to see positive control and a change of vector five minutes or 50,000 km or so from impact or we will begin firing. Oh frell. Botswann out." -----Vargas pushes the Bray Keaven into full pursuit mode trailing the Blue Donovan. The Bray Keaven's engines can normally accelerate an extra .2G above the nominal 2G rating, but that won't be enough by a long shot. -----Kevon, looking at his plot, sees that if Martha can push the engines to 3G of acceleration, the Bray Keaven can close to within docking distance within 29 minutes, which would leave about 11 minutes to dock, board and divert the runaway far trader. Kevon estimates that he or Vargas should be able to dock with the Blue Donovan in about two minutes if there is no one on board and the autopilot's collision avoidance system is not active. -----Martha redlines the power plant and maneuver drives as much as she can by diverting power from everything that she can. The Bray Keaven leaps forward, slamming everyone into their respective acceleration couches or seats as the reduced power grav compensators struggle to limit the increased G effects. The Bray Keaven is now accelerating at an impressive 2.88 G. Martha sees that the power plant and maneuver drives are straining considerably to keep up the acceleration, and she doesn’t know how long she can maintain this level of acceleration without damaging or overloading the power plant and drives. Hearing the Botswann’s communications over the ship’s comm, Martha continues her efforts to push the ship’s capacities, worrying every second about pushing the ship too far, too hard, but realizing that lives are at stake. -----In their respective fire control stations, Swann and Aidan see the laser capacitor levels begin dropping immediately, and they can see the Blue Donovan’s two maneuver drives burning their bright blue as the Bray Keaven desperately tries to close the distance. -----Kevon’s plot now shows a docking distance intercept time of 31 minutes. -----"Mr. McConnell, get suited up — you’ll be going with me onto the Donovan," Kevon orders. "You, too, Mr. Silver. We may need your computer expertise over there. Go with a combat loadout." -----A big grin flashes across Ian’s face. "Aye, aye Cap’n." With a new sense of purpose, Ian runs to his cabin to get the rest of his gear. -----"Aye sir!" Aidan says before he races back to his stateroom, suits up, and grabs rifle and pistol. All the while muttering to himself "Why is this place starting to remind me of a Tri–V serial?" -----"Mr. Vargas, I need to get suited up," Kevon says. "Can you manage for a few minutes without me?" Vargas breaks his concentration momentarily to reply. "Not a problem, Captain. I shall continue to close and dock with the Blue Donovan." Vargas then looks at the readouts and says, "Captain, given the risks involved in this boarding, maybe you should stay on board here and I attempt to divert the ship. Failure will result in certain death and I am more expendable than you are. "I do not wish to confront you but am simply stating a fact as I see it. What are your orders, Captain?" Kevon smiles as he pauses in the doorway. "You’re a stakeholder; I’m just an employee. Who’s more expendable? I’ll be back to help you dock, but I think we need the more experienced pilot on the Donovan. "We’ll discuss contingency plans when we I get back." "Good employers take care of good employees," Vargas says. "However, you are right. We need the more experienced pilot on the Blue Donovan. Good luck." Kevon then heads out to don his fitted vacc suit and combat load out, sans cutlass and shotgun. Vargas returns to giving total concentration to the task at hand — catching and docking with the Blue Donovan. -----Swann intently watches the Blue Donovan’s signature on the targeting sensor as he listens to the comm traffic. After he hears Kevon’s orders to Ian and Aidan, and the responses, he chuckles sardonically to himself. "Everyone’s in a hurry to be a hero," he says. Suddenly, another idea pops into Swann’s head. He keys the comm. "How about we launch some missiles at the Blue Donovan? At 6G, they’ll get there well before we will. If that doesn’t take out the ship, we can still trying docking with it when we do get there." -----"If we get very close then fire on her and disable ONE of the thrusters, that should make her veer off course," Vasilii says. "And it will drop her to 1G, which will simplify the intercept. But I don’t know how hard a shot that is; I’m not a gunner. What do you sophs think?" "Do not shoot the thrusters," Vargas says. "We already have a very tricky docking to accomplish and having the ship in a turn at this speed makes it even more difficult. We have too many crew at risk to make any mistakes now." "If it turns away from the planet, do we actually need to board at all?" Vasilii asks. "It can just fly off into space and someone in a faster ship can worry about it. "Besides, once it’s diverted we can shoot the other thruster or kill the power plant. Then it’s flying in a straight line and it can’t evade. "That's assuming we could make the shot, of course, which I don’t know." He finishes on a downbeat. After considering for a moment, Vargas says, "Shooting out a thruster may not actually divert the ship as the computer should compensate for the unbalanced thrust. I am afraid we are left with only two options: Boarding the ship or destroying it. "I am curious about what is on that ship. However the choice rests with the captain." "But if it does compensate, we’d be facing a ship going in a straight line at 1G instead of 2G," Vasilii says. "That would give us more time and make the boarding much easier, especially if it tries to evade. If it doesn’t compensate, then the ship will miss the planet. "Again, that’s assuming a shot like that is possible, which I don’t know." "That is a good idea, Vasilii," Vargas says. "It might be a good idea to partially disable the ship. However, that will make things a little more difficult for the boarding crew. I will maneuver in a way to enable a best shot assuming that the captain is in agreement." Vargas then comms Kevon to get orders. -----Finishing his last clasps on his armor, Kevon replies, "Take out the port engine; use missiles, since Martha is pretty much taking everything else. I’ll be back up there in a bit." -----"Swann, good luck with that shot," Vargas says. "Hold for a few minutes while I close the range in order to make a more accurate shot." Vargas then returns to absolute concentration on closing the distance between the two ships. He continues to maneuver to give Swann the best possible shooting solution with the missiles. -----Swann accesses the fire control for the port turret from his terminal. He brings the three loaded missiles to ready status. He waits for Vargas to finish his maneuver, then starts targeting the Blue Donovan’s port engine. "I can launch three missiles before having to reload," he thinks. "Should I try a spread of three? No, I’ll just launch one for now, see what happens." Over the comm Swann says, "I’m not sure how accurate I can be from this range, but here goes." He fires a missile at the Blue Donovan. "Go, baby, go," he says once it’s away.</blockquote>

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