Exodus: Machine War 1 Supernova. by Doug Dandridge

orbit.  But once they are on the ground, that’s
another matter.   He would make sure that they took none of his people away
from their fate, against the wishes of Hrrottha.  And it was also the God’s
wish that the infidels of Tsarzor, and all the other nonbelievers, suffer their
fate as well.  Hrrottha had a place in hell waiting for them, and he did not
want the God to be disappointed.
    “Summon my
military commanders,” he said into the intercom after he had pushed the
switch.  We have much to discuss.  He wasn’t sure that his military
could stand up to the aliens in a fight, but his people were past masters if
hidden warfare, such as they trained other peoples in to resist the
Tsarzorians.  He was sure he could hurt them.  Maybe even enough to make them
leave this world, and leave the fate of its people in the hands of God.
    *     *     *
    “ William
Clark arriving,” announced the Officer of the Day, the officer charged with
the scheduling of departures and arrivals from the battle cruiser Boudeuse.
    “Permission to
come aboard, sir?” asked Captain Mandy Albright, rendering a hand salute.
    “Permission
granted, ma’am,” replied the OOD, returning the salute.
    Mandy turned and
saluted the banner of the ship that was hanging on the wall, then did a slow
turn to look at the boat bay, one of four on the vessel, each capable of
hangaring more ships than both of the light cruisers combined under her
command.  A half dozen assault shuttles sat in their cradles, along with ten
smaller general purpose craft.  Halfway through the turn she saw the large
hatchway her shuttle had passed through, seemingly open to space.  The slight
shimmer of the cold plasma, held in place by a strong electromag field, kept
the air enclosed in the compartment. When flight operations were suspended the
armored hatch would be closed, giving the compartment almost as much protection
as the hull afforded the rest of the ship.
    “Captain
Albright,” said a tall, slender man wearing the insignia of a captain as well,
bright teeth shining out of an ebony face.  “I’m Captain Joshua Jackson,
Admiral Nguyen’s flag captain. Welcome aboard the Boudeuse.”
    “Thank you,
sir,” replied Mandy, holding out her hand.  Technically, she was of equal rank
with the other captain, but he commanded a capital ship, and she only a
cruiser.  “Let me introduce my executive officer, Commander Nord Sekumbe.  And
this is my Marine commander, Lt. J’rrantar.”
    Jackson shook
hands with the other officers, looking up at the Phlistaran Marine as he
clasped that being’s great paw.
    “First time
aboard a battle cruiser, Captain Albright?” asked the other Captain, obviously
in reference to her star struck appearance while she had surveyed the hangar.
    “I served aboard
the Golden Hind as tactical officer,” said Mandy, shaking her head.  “I
had just forgotten how, big, everything was.”
    Jackson laughed,
then gestured toward the hatch leading inwards.  “The Admiral is waiting for
you in the flag conference room.  If you would follow me.”
    With high speed
lifts it was not a long trip, even if they did traverse almost a kilometer
horizontal, and several hundred meters vertical to get there.  The doors to the
conference room slid open as she approached, and she sighted the Admiral
sitting at the head of the table as soon as she entered.  Snapping to
attention, she rendered a perfect salute.
    “Captain Mandy
Albright, reporting as ordered, sir.”
    Nguyen returned
the salute while remaining seated.  “At ease, Captain.  I really don’t stand on
all the spit and polish BS of the Fleet.  Go ahead and take your seats, and my
steward will ask what you want as far as refreshments.
    Mandy nodded,
then took the seat that had a blinking cursor over it in her implant generated
overlay.  She asked the steward for a coffee and some croissant, then turned
her attention to the Admiral.
    “I read as much
of your reports as I