Valhalla Rising

[MB52]

Chapter 9 - Return to Grace

*Back on board the LNX_ThunderBay*

The ship was positioned near the vast asteroid field near the Tau 23 jumphole, poised to makes its run through open space and into the relative safety of the kyushu gas clouds. This was the most dangerous part of her journey home as the Kusari Navy maintained patrols in the area.

"What is the location of the patrol?" inquired Jessica

"Looks like they are heading for planet Kyushu and are out of scanner range, now is the best time..." replied John as he squinted at the readings on his control panel.

The ship lurched forward, her engines at full power, they needed to get out of open space fast, before the next patrol came, and if one showed up they only had one ace up their sleeves. Engineering had managed to get the cloak operational, but it couldn't be used while the ship's engines were engaged. The cloak was also highly unstable and would likely not last long...

Within minutes the ship slipped past the tradelanes, the halfway point when... a KNF patrol came into scanner range...

"Jess, we've got company, looks like 2 gunboats with escort fighters, coming straight at us, looks like they haven't been able to scan us yet" blurted out John

"Helm, cut power to engines, Engineering.. get the cloak online" ordered Jessica

The Thunderbay slowed to a crawl, and all her power was diverted to the damaged cloak. Slowly space distorted around her, and she disappeared from view. The KNF patrol kept on their course, heading dangerously close to the cloaked ship. Upon reaching 2k from where the ThunderBay lurked, they halted and began scanning....

"They know something is out here..." an ensign whispered...

"Bridge, the cloak is starting to collapse, we can only keep it up for a few more minutes" reported engineering

"ok, open a channel to the KNF ships, and bounce our signal off that gas giant" ordered Jessica as she approached the comm panel

The officer at the station punched in a few commands "This should make it seem like the signal is coming from orbit of that gas giant, opening a channel now" *beep*

Jess picked up the microphone and began.. "This is Universal red 13, we are under attack by Blood Dragons and need immediate assistance, please respond... " *Beep* "Cut the signal"

The KNF ships lingered for a few more seconds then cruised off towards where the "distress signal" came from, leaving scanner range.

"That should keep them busy for a bit, disengage the cloak and power up the cruise engines, get us into that gas cloud"

"Aye Sir" replied the helmsman

"That was close, we got lucky this time Jess, I suspect this trick wont work again" John spoke up

"It wont have to, the rest of the journey we can avoid open space and stay hidden in gas or dust clouds..."

The ship cruised off undetected, into the gas cloud which would hide it from further threats. Of course the clouds were full of criminals, but searching for a ship in that mess would take ages, by the time they noticed anything the Liberty ship would be gone. The rest of the journey was rather un-eventful... the ship passed through the Shikoku system and managed was home free once they entered the Kepler system. The entire crew except Jessica were finally able to relax as the ship entered Colorado. Jessica would be locked in her office explaining what had happened to high command.

"So you made it back without the KNF even detecting you?" inquired Admiral Garner?

"We believe so, the cloak, while damaged, managed to hold up and keep us hidden"

"Captain Decker said you were all dead and the ship was lost"

"Glad to tell you he's wrong, however I have to inform you, he's been infested with a nomad"

"We figured something was up.. wait... my gods..."

"Admiral?"

"Its Decker, he just broke into the storage facility on Juneau and stole an artifact of some sort and escaped on the Yellowstone"

"Admiral, we will be there within the hour to begin the search.."

"No, the ThunderBay needs extensive repairs, we'll send other ships after Decker."