The Synchronicity War Part 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

need at least two bearings from different locations
to have any idea of distance, speed and vector. TF92 was still moving very fast
and still pointed in a direction that would take it along the outer edge of
this star system. He could order one or more of the raiders to micro-jump to a
different part of the system in order to get another angle on the VLO, but
getting that raider back to the Task Force would be tricky and time consuming.
If the VLO was about to enter Jumpspace, then letting them have a good head
start would complicate things. On the other hand, if he didn't get a better
idea of where they were going before they jumped away, that would complicate
things as well. He was hoping that he might get another vision, but so far
there’d been nothing, and he felt it was time to make a decision.

"Okay. Order Titan to detach one raider with instructions to micro-jump in
order to get a second bearing on the bogey. You and Titan figure out the
quickest way that the raider can rejoin the Task Force, given that I want to
take a closer look at the alien colony planet. Any questions?"
     
    "Negative, CAG. I understand what you want. Titan and I
have already figured out how to do this. Rainman has jumped and will be
rejoining us in approximately 8.9 hours. The plan is that he'll slingshot
around the colony planet to catch up to us from the rear."
     
     Before she could say more, Shiloh interrupted. "Wait a
minute! If there are enemy aliens still on that planet, they might detect
Rainman. His raider will be easier to detect than recon drones."
     
    "Your concern is understood, CAG. We compute that the
likelihood of him being observed is small and even if they see him, how will
they know that they're seeing a Space Force ship? It would be far more likely
that they'd assume it belonged to the race that built the VLO. We are, after
all, on the opposite side from Human Space."
     
    Shiloh relaxed. "Yes, that makes sense. Now since
there's nothing nearby that could threaten us, and we've got a few hours before
anything happens, I'm going to retire to my quarters for a meal and some sleep.
I know that I don't have to tell you to wake me when we get close enough to
observe the planet's surface or when Rainman contacts us with his sighting
report."
     
    "You're correct, CAG. You don't have to tell me that,
and yet you just did. You Humans are funny, CAG."
     
    Shiloh was still chuckling over Valkyrie's response when he
left the Bridge.

Chapter 3 Visit To An Alien Ghost Town
     
    As it turned out, Shiloh was back on the Bridge just in time
to watch the video transmission from a recon drone that was approaching the
planet. Rainman was still too far away to ensure that any laser com burst could
be aimed accurately at Resolute. The departing object had vanished and was
assumed to have entered Jumpspace.
     
    "Your sense of timing is impressive, CAG," said
Valkyrie.
     
    Shiloh smiled. It was just dumb luck, but he had no
intention of telling her that. "Something I've developed from my many
years in Space Force, Valkyrie. I take it we have images from our drone?"
     
    "I'm establishing the com link now, CAG." The main
display switched from tactical to the video feed. This planet did not have a
dust-filled atmosphere. It had less water than Earth and more desert. Only the
top and bottom third, as defined by its axis of rotation, showed any green.
     
    "Anything in orbit, Commander?" asked Shiloh.
     
    "Negative, CAG. Orbital space is clear. Still no
transmissions and the drone would be close enough now to detect heat signatures
if there were any, but there aren’t.  No signs of intelligent life at this point,"
said Valkyrie.
     
    "Do we know where the alien colony--" 
     
    Before Shiloh could finish the question, Valkyrie
interrupted. "Colony site has been detected, CAG. I've ordered the drone
to zoom in on that location. We'll see it momentarily."
     
    Shiloh waited. As the image on the display shimmered, it
zoomed in so quickly that he