Free Escape 2: Fight the Aliens by T. Jackson King Page A

blinking lights that indicate docking tube collars that are even now descending. They will attach to your rear access hatches. Keep adequate clearance between your conning tower and my hull.” Jane sat back and folded hands over the green camo of her ABU. “While I cannot allow your crew to board this ship due to limited air generation capabilities, I request each of you to board and join me on the Command Bridge of Blue Sky . While we consult on combined maneuvers, hover bots will be delivering 160 vacsuits to each ship, so your crew and yourself will survive any laser fire that breaches your hull.”
    “Excellent,” Baraka said, his expression going business-like. “My chief navigator is using the control tablet you provided for the Magfield drive to move us underneath your hull. We will approach at ten feet per second. Agreed?”
    “Agreed,” Jane said. “Captain Leonard, please approach in the same way after the Louisiana has docked with us. While my ship is large, my bottom hull is vulnerable to deforming. I want to give your crew the best chance of surviving the upcoming space combat, but I cannot risk damage to this ship. It is Earth’s only starship and I have every intention of taking her out to the stars again. After we defeat and capture these Collectors!”
    The Anglo nodded quickly. “Understood. We will watch the docking of the Louisiana to your bottom hull before we move the Minnesota into contact with her docking collar. Once air pressure equalizes, I will come aboard your ship. My XO will remain on board and respond to any orders from you.”
    “Outstanding,” Jane said, showing her first smile in several hours. “We have much to do over the next 47 hours. And the fleet maneuvers I plan will give your subs and your crews their first close up view of the Moon. I’ll explain the details once you arrive on my bridge.”
    Leonard returned her smile. “Executing. I look forward to meeting you in person, Captain Yamaguchi.”
    “I too,” Baraka said in a deep bass. “My helm is now moving us to docking collar linkup. Ending this conversation.”
    The images of both men disappeared. In the holo, Jane looked his way. “Executive Officer, I believe you have 18 collector pod boarders to visit with and train in taking over six enemy starships.”
    Bill stood up, turned to face her and saluted. “Captain, you are correct. My holo says the nine volunteers from MacDill have now left their habitat rooms and are heading for the Collector Pods Chamber. I leave to gather my saloon volunteers from the Food Chamber and take them to meet the new spec ops folks.”
    She gave him a friendly wink, then looked to Richardson’s station. “Admiral, will you fill me in on the combat capabilities and missile armament of these two subs? And I would appreciate any background on the two captains that you can share.”
    Bill slung his backpack and headed for the bridge exit door. Now came the hard work. Getting 18 men and women ready to work as three person boarding teams was part of his SEAL training. Ensuring they survived their boarding efforts was something only he and Jane could teach. And she had officers to meet, greet and command. He pointed his red cube at the entry hatch. It opened. Passing into the main hallway, he turned left and headed down the right side main hallway, aiming for the Food Chamber. He didn’t know these new arrivals, but coming from MacDill and the Joint Special Operations Command of USSOCOM, they were certain to be fighters. He looked forward to meeting them.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    “Listen up,” Bill called to the 18 spec ops folks gathered in the high-ceilinged Collector Pods Chamber. They were all dressed in green camo Army BDUs, wore backpacks like the one he now wore, and all had on bullet-resistant chest and back plates. Plus sod-breaking boots, none of them looking new. Even his saloon buddies had understood the need to be prepared for