The Jack and The Princess

Charles attempted to glare a hole into the file he’d been given. He knew who was in it without reading it. Violet Bradly, she was top of her class. As the rules dictated the top of the graduating class was paired with the top pilot. Never before had he lamented his own success. Once the rest of the testers had left the briefing room Charles stood up.

“What do you want Stewart?” the major said. Charles looked at her trying to come up with an appropriate response when she continued. “You know the rules. There has not been and will not be an exception just because of an interpersonal conflict. You both are supposed to be professionals.” In the scolding tone only mothers can produce.

Charles opened the folder and found exactly what he expected. “Major you know, and I know you know, that at this point her final exam is a formality.”

“And it is a formality that must be completed.” The major politely tolerating his insubordination. “Now get out there or will the Jack of Clubs break the Princess of Hearts.”

Charles knowing when a battle was lost headed out of the briefing room and made for the flight deck. “Ey Ace.” Dusty said as Charles got off the elevator. Charles rolled his eyes. “Everyone knows your due to be Ace of Spades not the damn Jack.” Dusty continued with the irreverence only maintainers could manage. “You got Lucky 13 this flight, Princess of Hearts is here and doing the walk around. She seems rather pissed. You forget to call her back or somethin?”

“Worse she thinks I killed her mother.” Charles retorted, wondering how Dusty was this far out of the loop.

“Yah yah, you killed the Queen of Hearts. So what ‘Off with your head?’” Dusty continued the irreverence. “Anyway you got a full cannon, the dummies you need and most of a multi-role pack. I’m not convinced you’d have enough anti-ship should we get jumped though.”

“It’s what’s on the ticket. Besides we have landing weight to worry about.” Charles said as they approached Lucky 13.

“Maybe normal pilots can’t land over weight without crunching something. You’re the Ace of Spades.” Charles rolled his eyes at Dusty’s comment. “Anyway I’ll be floating. Try to keep the fight to a minimum.” Dusty than made a tactical retreat to the tool cart and started flipping though a tablet.

Cadet Violet Bradly was standing impatiently tapping her foot as Charles approached. Once he got close enough she snapped what could only be an angry salute. “At ease cadet.” Charles said looking at her. “Cadet I am late because I attempted to get you passed without this waste of time and resources. However my attempts landed on uncompromising ears.” This seemed to quench a bit of the fire behind Violet’s eyes. “So what is our mission brief and let’s do the walk around.”

“Yes sir.” Violet responded, “We are to launch from the Liberty, I lead a systems check, do simulated attacks on target drones at long range, then I will lead an anti-ship run on the Edinburgh followed up by taking control and flying though a simulated evasion course. After that you will get us refueled at one of the tankers and we will ready up for the wargame. Upon completion of the wargame we will return here to the Liberty where I will receive my final grade.” Charles gave her a prompting look. “We will be operating under call sign ‘Royal Wedding’ unless we are scrambled at which case your call sign will be used.” As Charles deducted her a point on her sheet for not leading with the call sign as was called for, he was wishing he hadn’t gotten caught up in the call sign hazing. At least Violet was the one on radio duty.

“Alright let’s go over your walk around.” Violet had got everything, even if she was harsh; welcome to cadets. As they got back around to the front Charles noted there wasn’t a comment. “You do realize the ordnance aboard is over maximum landing weight?”

Violet nodded, “Yes however in the cadet briefing we were to ignore if we were over max landing weight for this flight.” Charles couldn’t stop his eyebrow from raising. “I didn’t understand it either however it is in the transcript.” Violet started to pull out her tablet to show him. Charles waved her off.

“My guess is they are expecting something than.” Charles did another scan around the flight deck. Most if not all the fighters were overloaded. “Cadet what is rule one of space combat?”

“Acceleration is life.” Charles nodded at Violet’s prompt answer.

“That is half correct.” Charles retorted, “Fuel is life. For without fuel there is no acceleration. Acceleration is life insurance because without it you will get hit. The armor will fail and you will die.”

While not a profound statement in the starfighter corps Violet’s reaction implied it was completely novel. “Sir that is not what they are teaching.”

“The instructors are more worried about you scoring in combat drills than surviving against the Shadow Swarm. It makes them look better. I and the other testers are more worried about you surviving to retirement. Or at least surviving until our retirement. Which is a different mind set.” To Charles’ surprise Violet took out her pad and noted that down. “So the fact we are almost all significantly over weight is bad, because we will burn more fuel to do what we need to do. Let alone complications in recovering any jettisoned weapons during this event.” Charles shook his head, “Regardless we are at the top of the QRF list. Meaning you may be getting a field commission.”

“We’re QRF?” Victoria all but mouthed the words, “What is the current threat condition?” her voice returned to her.

“Low, but command is worried. It’s been too quiet. Apparently it means the cadet flights need to be able to buy time.” Charles was glad only Violet could hear him, his tone could have landed him in the brig. “Anyway, everything is good. Grab your side arm and let’s go over pre-flight.”

They situated themselves into Lucky 13 and ran though the checklists. “Are you good up there?” Violet called though the intercom. Charles gave her a thumbs up. “Calling tower for reactor start.” The radio crackled to life, “Tower this is Royal Wedding we are ready for reactor start.”

“Royal Wedding, this is Tower you are go for reactor start. Are you taxing or need a lift to the launch rails?” The radio returned.

“Do you care?” Violet responded.

“You are rear seat, not to mention it’s your test, either of which would make it your call.” Charles noted down that she gave him a chance for input.

“Tower, Royal Wedding. We will taxi ourselves.” Violet returned to the radio.

“Tower copies Royal Wedding. You are cleared to taxi to launch Rail 3 via green path. Watch for traffic there are cadets driving out there.” The tower responded. Charles gestured to Dusty to pull the chocks and they started rolling down the green path. He felt Violet staring though the bulkhead at him.

Charles cracked his helmet, “You got a question Violet?”

“Ah, um.” Violet returned via the intercom before it cut, “What happened to my mother?” Her professionalism falling apart. “Why did you abandon her? Why did you burry what happened?!” While she didn’t shout it was clear she was demanding answers.

A clunk signaled they were locked into the rail, Charles snapped his helmet back into place. “Royal Wedding this is launch control we have you locked in to Rail 3, will launch on your command.”

“Royal Wedding copies.” Violet said “Whenever your ready Captain.” Charles looked over at the launch control station pushed the throttles to full after burner and saluted. The catapult pinned them into their seats which only partly eased up once they were released into the void. Charles cut the power to drift after they made good distance. “That.” Violet took another breath. “That was something.”

“Full power take off, it’s different than the sims.” Charles started to form up at their first testing point. “Are you ready to start the test.”

“Yes.” Violet said and they got to work. As expected Violet breezed though test after test. The long range, mid range and anti-ship run was almost flawless. Charles could only give full marks. Her attempt to run the evasive pattern left much to be desired, however she was rear seat rather than a pilot. “Did we survive?” Violet asked after completing the run.

Charles checked the computer looked over what hit where and pondered for a moment. “The computer says yes. Although if you check hit A3,” he paused hearing the cadet working though the computer, “Hit A3 probably would have cut the reaction thrusters on the port side meaning half of your rolls would have been hampered, meaning M2, M3 and A12 would have ended up being a killing blow on that same course.”

“Does that mean I failed Captain?” Violet said clearly wrestling with various emotions.

“No. Not even close. You were to fly the pattern, and you did. Now had you adapted to what hits got scored you’d score higher. But you are still likely top of your class.” Charles responded. “I believe we need to meet up with a tanker.” He hadn’t the heart to mention that the bigger issue with her flying had been the all but reckless amount of fuel burned. Simulated hostility or not fuel was important.

“Yes, that is the schedule. You have control?” Violet commented returning to a friendly business tone.

“I have control.” Charles said starting to line up their burn towards the tankers. “Call a head and see where they want us to go.” He ordered while starting the drift towards the tankers. Violet made the appropriate calls her hostility seemingly forgotten.

“We are to line up for Texaco.” Violet reported after the exchange. The silence that followed carried an odd tension. Violet than pulled on it. “I know you can’t talk about what happened to my mother.” Charles winced at the lie Violet had been told. “I assume she didn’t want me, or told you to look after me or something. Whatever it was you two did and said is still classified.” Charles adjusted their drift to buy her a bit more time before they hit the tanker. “Yet you came back. We grew up together and now you are the key to the biggest change in my life.” Violet all but whimpered the last line. “Why did I have to loose both of you.”

“Be her light house. Be her harbor. Break these storms and be her shelter.” Charles echoed the last words ever received from the Queen of Hearts. Violet jumped in her seat. “It’s that third one that has been the most difficult. Lot of angry bees out there causing quite a many storm.”

“Royal Wedding this is Texaco we are ready for you on boom 2.” The tanker trampled the sentimentality that had formed.

“Texaco, Royal Wedding copies all we are moving for hook up.” Violet responded as Charles docked with the designated boom.

“Royal Wedding Texaco, we see good contact and are starting the flow let us know before you leave.” Came back though the radio.

“Royal Wedding copies.” Violet responded clearly on auto pilot. They sat there a minute as the fuel flowed in, Texaco seemingly had nothing to say either.

“Hey you see that?” Charles asked as a light twinkled, “I’d say ten up on eleven. New light?”

Violet moved around a bit in the back. “I don’t have a good angle. I’m slewing the top pod, ten up on eleven?” Charles confirmed with a hum. “There’s something, take a look at the feed.”

Charles’ blood ran cold. He opened a private line to Texaco. “Texaco Jack of Spades.”

“Texaco hears you Jack what’s up?”

“I see some Shadow ships. Currently unknown count and typing. Permission to jettison the training stores here. We are functionally full so we’re going to investigate it. Pass it all on to Liberty.” Charles responded in a half whisper.

“Texaco copies all. Good luck and gods’ speed.” Texaco said retracting the boom. Charles jettisoned the unspent training rockets and took off in the direction of the Shadow’s ships.

“Those are real shadow ships aren’t they?” Violet said, not really asking a question.

“Yes. Congratulations lieutenant, you’re on a combat recon mission. We are to ID, count and if possible destroy what we can. And of course, get out alive.” Charles said, “Now to your duty.” Violet took to her station.

“Liberty to all; liberty to all. We have suspected hostile activity. Non-com ships to center of formation. Set condition three across the fleet.” The message repeated thrice and the radar revealed the mad scramble behind them. A direct line alert was picked up by Charles. “Jack of Spades, Liberty Actual” the voice of the fleet commander came though the radio. Violet froze her work.

“Jack of Spades here, go Liberty Actual.” Charles responded adjusting and putting a tumble into their approach.

“Sit Rep and Threat Assessment.” The voice of the admiral came though.

“Multiple Shadow ships. They are active, ELINT is reporting communications and sensors.” Charles reported.

“I have ID on three frigates, two cruisers, a light carrier and something bigger.” Violet said. “Passing the feed of the unknown to you Jack.”

“Liberty Actual. It’s back.” Charles said looking at the massive ship.

“Jack of Spades are you certain.” The admiral’s voice replied still cold as the void.

“It is either the same ship or one of the same class. Possibly a different permutation. We are at the far edge. I would say better safe than sorry.” Charles said adjusting their approach again.

“Liberty Actual copies. Collect data, do not risk an engagement. The council wants to see a royal wedding after all.” The slightest hint of amusement creeping in past the admiral's professionalism.

“Understood. Jack going dark. Be back on the sunny side soon.” Charles said cutting the connection. He then adjusted their course and increased speed.

“What is that?” Violet said pulling Charles out of his laser focus. “Why did the Admiral of the Fleet call us personally?”

“Your mother and I stalled the last one. I thought she might have destroyed it. Since it has interdiction abilities that affect both ships and the hyper-velocity cannons it was locked up: need to know.” Charles said, taking advantage of the need to know status. “I managed to get out mostly. I still don’t remember how. I’m glad the fleet got away.”

“Oh.” Was all Violet could say.

“Keep your eyes on it. If we get a good shot at the unknown we should hit it. If it deploys that interdiction bubble.” Charles didn’t want to finish his thought. Violet mumbled her acknowledgment as they closed in. Charles adjusted their course again. They focused on their roles for the next while.

“It’s doing something.” Violet said breaking the silence. She sent the camera feed to Charles before he could say something. “You said it would deploy it’s interdiction device. Think that’s it?” The bone like plates that build up the shadow ships were expanding with the two knots expanding and starting to glow.

“Yes.” Charles sent a single text message back to the fleet.

Red Red Red

“We have to cripple it. What’s your G-rating?” Charles said starting to adjust the weapon settings.

“Five, six with the suit.” Violet said preoccupied with adjusting her own screens. “Do you want to take the sidewinders?”

“Yah that’s a good idea. You control the ordinance I’ll take the anti-fighter. Although on the way out, take them back so you can shoot behind us.” Charles said accepting the weapon control transfer from Violet. He paused for a moment once everything was set up. “Send a message to the fleet, include that bit of the ship deploying. Tell them we are headed in.” Violet clicked an approval.

“Sent, I’m as ready as I could be.” Violet said her frayed nerves leaking into her voice. Charles punched the throttles forward and sent the ship rocketing towards the shadow’s fleet.

It wasn’t long until they were spotted. Although they did get fairly close before the shadow were able to react. Fighters were scrambled, guns and missiles were launched at the singular attacking craft. Charles started his evasive dance. Charles heard Violet struggling in the rear seat as he pushed Lucky 13 though her paces. Cannon shots destroyed fighter after fighter as countermeasures decoyed the few missiles still close enough to be a threat.

A loud thunk shook the Lucky 13 “Torpedoes away!” Violet shouted as she took control over the two torpedoes that had just launched. Charles put Lucky 13 into a violent spin changing their angle and starting to adjust their vector back towards the fleet. Violet fought against the maneuvers guiding the torpedoes onto their target. She did what she could to shut out the world until. Boom, Boom. Both torpedoes hit.

Charles got the auditory response that the torpedoes had impacted something and doubled the evasive efforts. “Call the fleet. We need to get out of here.” He shouted into the intercom. Violet struggled a response though the g forces she wasn’t prepared for.

“Jack of… spades…” Violet struggled.

“Jack of spades to Fleet.” Charles took over. “We hit the target. Repeat. We have hit the target. Cannot get damage report.” A blinding light stunned him into silence.

A hyper-velocity slug blew past the two of them as the radio crackled to life. “Fleet to Ace of Spades. Good damage on the interdiction type. Covering barrage inbound watch for friendlies.”

Charles eased up just enough to give Violet a chance to breathe before missile warning caused him to evade again. “Sorry” he grunted. The Lucky 13 dipped out of the way of the missile before Charles dove onto the fighter’s tail he let loose a missile of his own it arced cleanly into the alien fighter cutting it in half. Then the space behind them exploded as the first salvo landed. “You good back there?”

“Yah.” Violet let out a pained groan. “Are we clear?” she paused as she scanned though screens, “no they just kicked the nest.” Violet switched to the radio, “Fleet, Jack of Spades. We need more, swatted flies, ships unharmed.” The static replied. “We are jammed. Can’t receive.” Lucky 13 was rocked as a second salvo landed.

“The interdiction is active.” Charles said attempting to glare the FTL system into functionality. “If the fleet jumps we will be left behind.”

“Unless we disable it. What’s the range on the interdiction?” Violet said flipping though sensors and displays. “We have the Scalloway inbound with escorts. Looks like two destroyers and three frigates with a lot of strike craft. Are they bailing us out?”

“Long.” Charles replied, and as if on queue the distinctive flashes of failed FTL jumps sparked from the fleet. “Probably, fleet admiral himself wants our wedding.” They shared a laugh at the absurdity of the situation. “Think you can dumb bomb that generator we hit with the external fuel tank? Might need what’s left of the missiles. I’m keeping the,” Charles checked the cannon ammo, “Half of our cannon to knife fight if needed.” Violet was silent. “Lieutenant it’s either that or run for the Scalloway.”

“It killed my mother. I’m not running.” Violet’s voice was dripping with venom. Charles began maneuvering Lucky 13 with small puffs. “I think we will need to hit the impact point on the lightning barnacles.” Violet announced, “I don’t think we will need the rest of the sidewinders.”

“Send them. There’s no such thing as overkill.” Charles replied plotting out the approach in his head. “Jammer status?”

“Warmed up.” Violet responded.

“We go in loud. The fleet will figure it out or they won’t. Either way we need to go.” Charles said easing Lucky 13 into position. “Ready?”

“Ready.” Violet said; Charles launched Lucky 13 into the hostile fleet. The suppressive barrages being fired by the approaching portion of the fleet bought them enough space to dance past the defenders attempting to cover the wounded giant. They were working their way though the defenses, when another another salvo came in. The covering shrapnel peppered Lucky 13 that was earning it’s name. “Armor took it.” She reported as Charles changed their vector to evade another salvo from the shadows.

“Twenty seconds.” Charles reported as they skimmed the shields of a defending cruiser.

“Port wing stripped.” Violet announced struggling against the G-Forces, “Looks like minor structural damage too.”

“Got it, ready to release?” Charles said lining up on the massive shadow ship. Violet grunted in the affirmative. Charles steadied Lucky 13 and Violet fired everything that was left. The seven remaining missiles flew off ahead as the fuel tank detached on it’s drift. As Violet monitored their approach Charles went evasive.

All seven missiles hit their target dealing some damage and opening a hole in the shields for the fuel tank to slip though. The fuel tank impacted and exploded with a shockwave that thew Lucky 13 around and even adjusted the course of the target.

“Jack of Spades respond!” came though the radio.

“Jack here.” Violet responded. “We hit the unknown it appears to be crippled. We are damaged but operational.” Charles adjusted their velocity to take them back towards the fleet using the least amount of fuel he could.

“Jack of Spades, Scalloway we are starting clean up operations. You did a hell of a number on them. Can you make it back to Liberty?” Came though the radio.

Victoria took a moment to look over her screens. “Captain, what do you think. I’m surprised we aren’t dead.” Charles skimmed though the diagnostics and took in the damage. The port side was still there, although most major functions were impaired at best, and the armor was completely gone. Fuel was low but not worryingly so. Most of the complex electronics were fried, which meant no computer aided landing, FTL navigation or long range communications.

“Ask them if we can land there. It won’t be a crash landing but it’s going to be a post battle recovery.” Charles made his decision.

“Looks like the shadows are running.” Violet commented, “Scalloway, Jack of Spades. We could use a lift. We are able to land, not under fire.” Secondary explosions were bursting out of their victim. Electric blue and green plasma discharges erupted from the hull as the ship died.
“Understood Jack of Spades. Looks like you two were able to put out enough crazy to scare the shadows off.” Scalloway’s transmission cut short as the interdiction type imploded. The shadow ship had broken in half with the colors of the plasma getting warped around a single point that started to glow purple. This purple sphere was slowly expanding, as the ship halves sunk into it.

“Scalloway and fleet get distance!” Charles shouted into the radio attempting to fight against the pull of the purple sphere. “It’s pulling us in.” Charles announced to the radio. “I need range call outs, closer/farther.”

“On it.” Violet responded. They were pointed at the Scalloway that was now turning around and burning hard to reverse it’s course. The escorts and fighters were similarly performing an about face.

“Jack of Spades report.” came though the line.

“We are stuck in what appears to be a gravity well, we are getting pulled into it.” Violet snapped back at the radio. “We are getting closer.” Charles pushed the damaged engines as hard as he dared. Lucky 13 started to shake fighting against the pull. “Closer, although not as fast.” Violet reported.

“We have to jump. Diverting power to FTL.” Charles decreed. “Forward if you can plot it.” They both felt the newly formed gravity well pull them in.

“On it,” Violet said. “Jack of Spades is being pulled in performing blind jump.” She announced over the radio. The FTL charged and Lucky 13 and it’s crew vanished.

“Captain you are certain they did not go into FTL?” The Fleet Admiral asked.

“Yes sir. Our sensors would have detected it. They simply vanished.” The captain of the Scalloway reported. “I’ve packaged what we got from Lucky 13, upon regaining contact with them, and the sensor data. I marked it top secret and the logs are being wiped as we speak.”

“Thank you captain. I will be in contact.” The Fleet Admiral looked over the data he was sent. “Hopefully this time we will find where they went.”

Merry Christmas everyone, I know this wasn’t a Christmasy story yet I hope you enjoyed it.