Solar Warden

Escape Part 131

Captain, I have the physic department on the line," the communication officer informed.

"Put them through," Fisher was now waiting. In mind he did plan now how to intercept the fighter first.

"Sir, we got a new gravimetric signature it's on the location where we wanted to pick up the shuttles," came it over the speaker.

"Clark get this on a tactical table," Fisher ordered at once.

Clark did the synchronization with the physics department. He had not to do much as reroute the hyperdrive system to the table.

Fisher looked now at the table. "They must also see us and already know that the shuttles are not coming," Fisher said.

He was now guessing what they maybe could do in the hyperspace. Till now the Icarus was the first ship. There was only one smaller drone test ship before. So it was not possible to test much of the hyperspace physics then to travel fast and safe to a different location.

"Can they shot at us?" Fisher asked.

"Maybe. With a torpedo with his own hyperdrive," came the answer from the physic department.

Fisher looked at the volumetric display. He needed a new position for the Icarus to regroup with the combat drones.

"It's moving towards us!" Clark shouted.

Alerted Fisher glanced back to the table with the display of the hyperdrive system. It was not too fast.

"Move back," he ordered. Then he selected a location with his finger in the volumetric display and marked it with a gesture of the other hand. "Helm, I marked a new position. Bring us as fast as possible three."

"Affirmative."

"We will leave the hyperspace there and recall our combat drones. I need to know if we can detect them from normal space or if they can shoot at us out of hyperspace and how. This torpedo theory sound likely." Fisher wanted to do other things first, but things went different. Now the physicists were busy again. Fisher checked the tactical position. The enemy ship was slower at the moment. What were they up to? They had the same limit, Fisher thought. In the gravimetric field of the planet they could also not leave the hyperspace. That meant they would be at least safe there. But how close could they jump out to them. The first time there was quite a distance between them. Not only because of the gravimetric field. Learning the hyperspace mechanics while in a combat situation was not what Fisher wanted. The enemy ship did not accelerate further, but it surly could. Also the question was can the aliens fly faster in hyperspace.

"Recalculate our exit point with our combat drones recall and the enemy fighters. Optimize this as good as possible," Fisher ordered.

"Aye, sir," the helmsman replied and started the calculation. He had not much time they were already close. The helmsman did the final correction and showed it on the volumetric screen. "This gets us five minutes faster to the drones."

"Good, as soon as we are there, launch the sensor probes. Do a fast scan and exit," Fisher did not want to give the enemy ship a chance to surprise them in hyperspace.

"Affirmative."

Now Fisher was thinking. Without destroying the enemy ship, they could not escape. Risking a pursue in hyperspace was not a thing he wanted to try out. But step by step, first the fighters then the next problem. Without loses of combat drones it won't work again.

"We reached the exit point. Sending probes," Clark informed.

The enemy ship kept the speed and still headed for the Icarus. Fisher was looking at its movement.

"All clear," Clark reported.

The Icarus jumped out of the hyperspace.

"Recall the combat drones and the fighters to our position," Fisher ordered. He looked at the volumetric display. The enemy fighters were heading to the planet were the combat drones currently were. The enemy capital ship also appeared further away. Now the enemy fighters changed the course for the Icarus. Also the enemy capital ship was heading for the Icarus as Fisher checked it again. But why did it jump out so far away. There must be a reason. "Alert all personal we are in combat. Everyone have to put on combat suits or space suits, now. Clear the bridge and move to the combat bridge!"

Fisher wanted to order this in hyperspace where they should have had more time, which they hadn't. Now with the approaching fighters it was about 40 minutes for the confrontation. But he had to encounter them sooner not to endanger the ship. He checked the volumetric display again. The combat drones were fast enough. There were some possibilities.