Even the worst of situations can prove to be an opportunity
"Captain, sensors are picking up ships ahead at extreme range. They're Malakin ships! Positive identification on three Malakin destroyers!"
"Okay, helm, steer away from them. We have a convoy to protect in addition to our passenger."
"More ships on the scope, sir! I'm picking up Ape-oid ships now. Too difficult to make out what kinds yet. They're farther away from us."
"Let me know as soon as you can. First Officer, put the ship at battle stations. If any of them spot us, I want us prepared for battle. Signal the convoy to stay close."
The ship's interior lights briefly changed to a red intensity and back to white several times throughout the ship. As the lights changed, the First Officer intoned, "Man your battle stations. Enemy ships within extreme sensor range."
Captain Brantle said, "Looks like we finally have proof that the Ape-oids and Malakins are allies as we suspected."
"Seems to appear that way," First Officer Church replied.
***
Rear Admiral Dave Oden stopped chatting with some crew members and left for the bridge upon hearing the First Officer over the intercom. Had the convoy not needed some protection, the dreadnought carrying the admiral would have left Echo on a direct route to Beulah. Instead, Dave had ordered it to accompany the convoy to Leuion even though it meant passing by the solar system containing Bragh, the home world of the Ape-oids. The dreadnaught could have sped past Bragh's solar system. However, Dave had also felt it wise for them to take a quick look to determine if the orbiting space mines were keeping the Ape-oids limited to their world after they tried to break out with their illegally produced new warships.
***
"Sir, the Ape-oid ships are freighters. I can only make out one small gunship among them. The Malakins are on a course toward them."
Captain Brantle said, "Probably supplying the Malakins then. Let me know if any of those ships spot us."
"You think they've improved their sensors enough yet to spot us this far away?" asked First Officer Church.
"It pays to play it safe. I don't want Admiral Reason on my neck for needlessly exposing Admiral Oden to the enemy while we're at war. Not while Oden's responsible for everything in this theater of operations."
"Admiral on the Bridge!"
Captain Brantle turned to see Admiral Oden silently approach.
"Ape-oids break out, Brandon?" Dave asked.
Captain Brandon Brantle answered, "I don't think so. We've spotted only some Ape-oid freighters along with one gunship escort. I put the ship on battle stations because they appear to be meeting three Malakin destroyers. We spotted those first at extreme range because of their size."
Dave replied, "Yes, it's hard to miss a Malakin ship seeing as they build theirs so large. Only three?"
"So far," Brandon answered.
"Probably a scouting patrol then," Dave said.
First Officer Church said, "Judging by the course the Malakins are on, they're heading directly for the freighters. I think they're picking up supplies."
***
Without hesitation, Captain Jelar ordered, "Battle stations! Attack! Helm, set course to intercept those ships! We must give our freighters enough time to leave orbit and escape. Communications, instruct the freighters to get under way quickly. They are not to wait for us."
The navigator asked, "Escape to where, sir? They can't return to Bragh with the Union mines in place. This mining world is their only refuge."
Captain Jelar kept his eyes posted to the sensor screen while answering, "It doesn't matter where they escape to. It only matters that we give our ships enough time to escape. They can decide where to go later."
)
Dust Bunny concludes The Rust Bucket Trilogy. The trilogy begins in Rust Bucket with the first official discovery of intelligent alien life and Dave Oden's initial rejection, and later acceptance, by the Navy. Attack Butterfly, book two, introduces the first graduates from the academy under Oden's schooling and concludes in a war with a new race out to conquer The Federation. Dust Bunny finds Oden risking his reputation and his life to strengthen the Universal Rights Bill of the Union of Planets in the midst of a showdown in space.
