Read Online Escape 3: Defeat the Aliens by T. Jackson King - Free Book Online Page A

four of our Collector starships here , with you, to form a basic defense fleet. That gives humanity seven very deadly starships. Second stage is for me to take the Blue Sky , along with the nine reactivated vets who now crew those ships, to Kepler 62. On arrival there I will imitate a former captain of another Collector ship, a captain who lived far in the past. That fake holo image will be matched by a fake ship ID. My ship AI is very adept at pretending to be other than what we truly are. We will act as an intelligence asset, picking up data on the enemy fleet and its preparations.” She licked her lips, likely feeling as dry as Bill’s mouth now felt. “Third stage is for our nine vet boarding team to attempt a capture of three or four enemy ships by way of collector pods. Whatever happens during the capture attempt, we will continue to pretend to be a member of the enemy fleet. Hopefully that will allow us to accompany the enemy when it departs for Sol.” She paused, shaking black bangs out of her eyes. “Fourth stage is after we arrive beyond Pluto. While the enemy fleet is reorganizing after the long transit to our Solar system, the Blue Sky and our captured ships will strike the rear flank of the enemy fleet with antimatter beams. Hopefully we can disable part of that fleet. We will then follow the enemy as it heads in-system, harrying it as possible. I suggest the seven ships left at home should rendezvous with us at Jupiter for an all-out battle. We cannot allow any enemy ship to get within nuke warhead strike distance of Earth. That is my best action plan.”
    “Striking tactical and strategic elements there,” Poindexter murmured. “Concerning the four ships you leave behind. If you reclaim the nine former vets for your boarding team, who will be the new captains and crew of those ships?”
    Jane nodded slowly. “I’ve given that some thought. When we were last here you and SOCOM gave us volunteers to round out the crew numbers on our three captured ships.” She held up a fist. She raised two fingers. “Those folks are a Marine Special Operations guy and an Air Force Special Tactics woman on the Seafloat , another Marine Special Operations and an Air Force PJ, both gals, on the Pointe Du Hoc , and two Ranger guys on the Chapultepec Castle . Master Chief Joe Batigula, as captain of the Manila Bay , has spent the last three days training six Slinkeroo volunteers in ship function posts.” Jane laid down her open hand. “Our six SOCOM volunteers have learned the basics of crew function posts during our trips to the Market world and out to the Slinkeroo system. They are capable people. While I am sure the current captains of those ships will regret leaving their ships, they’ve all done covert boarding before. They are the best of the best. Which is why I am claiming them for my solo invasion of the enemy base.”
    Poindexter blinked brown eyes. “That makes a crew of two for three of the ships. The fourth has no one named. Though I assume the Slinkeroo volunteers could add to the crews of the four ships left behind. We still come up short. Suggestions?”
    Jane nodded slowly. “We are bringing back 93 freed Captives. I suggest we and the other ship captains ask for combat volunteers. Any who do not wish to fight can be delivered to the Geneva headquarters of the UN, there to be housed in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.” She shrugged. “Eventually, after we defeat the enemy fleet, one of our Collector ships could start the process of taking freed Captives back to their home systems.”
    “That sounds satisfactory,” Poindexter said, her tone thoughtful. “I assume the enemy crews from your captured ships will be housed in containment cells on their ships, for later deposit on Mars.”
    “Exactly so,” Jane said quickly. “Do I have your permission to alert my captains to their new assignments?”
    Surprise showed briefly on Poindexter’s face. “Your vet captains do not know this part