by I G Hulme
“It was your people that did this Ryann Wade!” spat Grande, staring down at him in fury. “Your father attacked the Ibis and brought the aliens down upon us! Your people not mine!”
Two of Grande’s crew appeared at the top of the ramp, pointing their rifles down at Anders and the others as they went to help Ryann.
“Close the ramp!” yelled Grande, turning his back on Ryann. “Get to the Ibis!”
The cargo doors slid shut, leaving perhaps forty or so Outlanders still left to be evacuated. They huddled together on the landing-pad, watching the battle unfolding. The Serena’s engines reached a deafening howl, and as Ryann struggled to his feet she began to rise unsteadily into the air. He staggered in the downdraft, watching bleakly as the transporter headed out through the docking bay shields in a shower of blue static.
As Ryann looked on, three Luminal fighters broke off from strafing the refugee ships and engaged the Serena. She rocked under a blast of fire, doggedly pushing on through the firestorm towards the Ibis.
One of the four remaining Interceptors came into view, trying to protect the little freighter. Ryann watched on helplessly as it was quickly overwhelmed by two more drone-ships. The Interceptor tried vainly to make a run back into the refugee fleet, but he wasn’t quick enough. A trail of laser-fire cut across the ship’s cockpit, burning straight through the glass. Instantly, the Interceptor fell into an uncontrolled spin, the pilot killed or severely injured. It fell down into the mass of burning ships, impacting with one of the freighters and exploded in a dazzling flash of light.
Jean-Baptiste looked on grim-faced, before turning back to the crew of the Marianne.
“Captain Anders, I need the codes to operate your ship so that I can evacuate my people.”
The two men appraised each other in silence for a moment before Anders replied.
“Go to hell,” he cursed, his fists clenched at his sides.
“What have you done Grande?” gasped Ryann as he fought to get his breath back. Jean-Baptiste turned and looked at him with that dark, other-worldly gaze.
“I am sorry Ryann Wade,” he said slowly. “The aliens are coming — they are lighting up the ice-field with their bombs. We never meant for this to happen. We have unlocked all the doors to the refugee ships, you and your people are free to try and save yourselves.”
“Free!” spat Ryann, stepping towards the big man once again. “All our ships our disabled! How the hell are we meant to try and escape? There are over a thousand people aboard those ships — men, women, children — just like your people here!”
“My duty is to my own, I am sorry,” replied Jean-Baptiste solemnly. “Now, Captain Anders, I need those codes.”
He stepped forwards, reaching into a pocket of his pressure suit and taking out a small object. To Ryann’s horror, he saw that it was the remote transmitter that he had used to control the Spiner back aboard the Ibis.
There was a sound of movement behind them, and Ryann looked in fear towards a row of cargo containers at the far end of the docks.
From out of the shadows he saw that terrifyingly-familiar red glow, a cluster of optical sensors that gave the impression of menacing eyes. With a slow movement, the monstrous shape of the Spiner appeared, making its way towards them as the crowds parted before it.
Another movement caught Ryann’s eye, and on the other side of the dock his heart sank to see another Spiner and then another stepping ponderously through the crowds.
“Quickly please Captain,” growled Jean-Baptiste. “My people need your ship.”
“Kill me and you’ll never get those codes,” replied Anders through gritted teeth as the creatures came closer.
“And your crew?” asked Grande. “Would you sacrifice them, just for your ship?”
“We’re all dead anyways if you take our ship,” said Anders, nodding out to the battle that raged on in the space beyond.
“Argh, for pity’s sake!” cut in Angelique. “Will you two just stop flexing your damn muscles long enough for us to work together?” She stormed forward, staring up at the imposing bulk of Jean-Baptiste.
“Look, just give us back the Marianne and let us take care of those Luminal fighters!” she spat. “And while you’re at it, recall those Interceptors! Your pilots are getting wasted out there! Give them to us — we know how to use them!”
Grande paused for a moment and then laughed deeply at the sight of Angelique’s fury. He glanced up at the three Spiner’s as they approached, towering over the group.
Ryann took a step towards Angelique, ready to do what little he could to help.
“Please, call those Interceptors in,” continued Angelique. As they stared out to the battle it was clear to see that Grande’s crew were fighting for their lives. Each of the little craft were engaged in their own private battles, but they weren’t fighting now, all they could do was try to evade the superior numbers of drone-ships.
“You are brave girl,” laughed Grande. “You want me to give you our only fighting ships? That is the trouble with you Inlanders — you always take us for fools. But my duty is to my people. Now give me the codes to your ship.”
“We have a duty to our people as well Jean-Baptiste,” said Angelique quietly, staring straight into Grande’s eyes as though she feared to catch a glimpse of the Spiners beside her. “We share a common purpose. If you don’t want to be taken for a fool, then don’t act like one. You know that in protecting our people we will be saving yours.”
“Our pilots, they are no match for you, it is true,” said Jean-Baptiste solemnly. “They are not used to these small craft. But I suspect that if you defeat the aliens, you will then turn your ships upon us.” His expression hadn’t changed, but a hint of uncertainty had crept into his voice as he listened to this slight girl speaking so forcefully before him.
Angelique merely smiled sadly.
“Think about it — a few fighters against a Luminal battleship? Do you really believe that it will come to that? Jean-Baptiste, we’re not asking for a chance to beat them, just the chance to go down fighting.”
Grande turned to look mistrustfully at Ryann.
“Your father appeared beyond the ice-field with a force of fighting ships several hours ago,” he began, his dark eyes boring into Ryann. “He came aboard the Ibis and we spoke together. I told him you were alive and safe, and that we would release you unharmed when it was time for us to leave.
“He returned to his ship, agreeing to wait for our repairs to be completed.” He paused for a second. “Your father attacked the Ibis the moment he was back aboard his ship. It was his actions that alerted the aliens. And if it hadn’t been for the appearance of the alien battleship, then your father and his men would have destroyed us with ease. We only managed to escape and slip back into the ice-field when your father’s ships turned to engage the battleship itself.”
Ryann looked on in horror.
“My father is fighting the Lumina?”
“For the moment,” replied Jean-Baptiste. “Though how much longer they can last against that battleship I do not know.”
He turned to Ryann with a grim smile.
“You were right Ryann Wade, I am sorry that I didn’t believe you before. But, that is of little matter now. When the Ibis fled back to New Eden the alien ship was still some way off. But it will not take them long to find the way in — for the moment your father and his fighters are all that is stopping it from following us into the ice-field.”
“Then we have even less time than we thought,” pleaded Angelique. “Help us to help each other. You have to believe me — once Grayell sees that we are safe he’ll let the Ibis go free, I promise.”
Grande remained silent in thought for what seemed like an age. But then a grim smile spread across his face.
“Are you true to your word young girl?” he asked at long last, and Angelique nodded proudly. “Then give me your word that you will not fight us when we come to leave.”
“You have my word Jean-Baptiste
, thank you, thank you.”
A wave of relief washed over the group as Grande keyed a sequence into his handset and the Spiners immediately powered down, the red glow of their optics fading slowly to black.
Ryann turned to look back out through the docking-bay doors. The Serena had made it across to the Ibis now, and was hastily off-loading the evacuees, but both ships were under constant bombardment as the Luminal drones fired down upon them from all sides.
But it was the flotilla of refugee ships that was faring the worst. Throughout the vessels a myriad of fires were springing up. The larger craft could soak up more damage, but the little shuttle craft and cargo vessels were defenceless against the Luminal’s firepower. Already, many of them had been completely destroyed, and Ryann could only guess at the number of refugees that had already been lost.
“Grande!”
Angelique’s sharp call snapped the big man out of his reverie. To Ryann’s surprise he saw Jean-Baptiste nod sadly. He brought up the comms-panel on the arm of his pressure suit, quickly ordering the pilots of the three remaining Interceptors back to the station.
“Ashe, Mara, Ryann, you’re our best pilots,” called Anders. “Stay here and wait for the Interceptors. Angelique, think you can co-pilot the Marianne with me?”
Angelique nodded hurriedly.
“Come on then. Torrens, it looks like you’re on weapons. You know the drill, warm those turrets up.”
Anders looked over to Grande, and the two men appraised each other for a moment. Then, with a curt nod Anders turned, following Torrens across the landing-pad to where the Marianne waited.
“Angelique!” called Ryann as she went to follow them. He took hold of her arms, looking longingly into her dark eyes. “Be safe out there,” he said at last.
“You too. Just be careful for a change would you?” she muttered, and laughed awkwardly. “I’ve got to go.” She glanced back to where Mara and Ashe still waited beside Jean-Baptiste.
“Stay safe Ryann,” she said tenderly, then turned, following Anders and Torrens who were now heading up the loading ramp and into the ship.
A few seconds later the Marianne’s landing lights sprang into life and the throb of her engines could be heard growing above the blaring alarms.
Another blast of incandescent light from the Luminal battleship beyond the Halion Belt lit up ice-field. The shockwave tore open the clouds, and to Ryann’s horror, one of the cruisers on the edge of the flotilla split completely in two. Several smaller ships anchored to it were caught in the explosion and blew apart in a bright blossom of flames.
“That battleship’s getting closer!” called Mara as the station rocked, the aftershock rippling through the fleet. “Let’s hope Grayell and the other Ghost-Runners can keep it out of the Halion Belt long enough for us to get in the air at least!”
“And then what?” cursed Ryann, but his words were snatched away by the roar of the Marianne’s engines as she rose up from the landing-pad, blasting off towards the exit. Ryann felt a pang of fear in the pit of his stomach as he caught a last glimpse of Angelique through the cockpit window.
“Where are those damn fighters?” he spat, staring impotently out to the battle.
As the Marianne burst out through the station’s docking shields, Ryann saw several drone-ships break off from their attack upon the Ibis. They looped over, streaking towards their new target, their guns slicing through the dark in beams of blue and green.
“Careful Angelique,” Ryann breathed to himself, as the squat shape of the Marianne swooped beneath one of the refugee ships, evading the incoming fire. For a moment he saw the Marianne’s aft turret open up on the pursuing craft before they were lost in the chaos.
Ryann turned back to survey the Ibis, still floating up beyond the refugee fleet. There were several small fires burning along her hull, but she looked operable. As he watched, the smaller shape of the Serena, listing from her damaged drives, detached herself from the bigger ship, her passengers now off-loaded.
She turned ponderously back towards the station, still under sporadic fire, though most of the Luminal fighters were now engaging the Marianna and the three Interceptors. Leaving a trail of smoke in her wake, the Serena began its slow journey back to the station.
“Another trip — we need time for one more trip,” muttered Grande, looking back over the fearful crowd.
“We can hold off the drones, but if that Luminal battleship gets into the Halion Belt, then we’re trapped here,” cursed Ryann.
“Then let us hope that your father and his fighters can keep them distracted and buy us enough time to escape.”
“There’s no way for the refugees to escape,” said Ryann. “They won’t stand a chance.”
There was a low boom as one of the Interceptors broke through the docking shields and came to rest on the landing pad with a heavy thump. Steam and smoke rose from its engines, and Ryann noticed numerous small blast marks along its sleek hull. He went to move, but Ashe was already running.
“I’ve got this!” she called out over her shoulder.
“Jean-Baptiste,” said Ryann, turning back to the big man. “I know there’s little chance of us getting out of this alive, but if we do, please won’t you reconsider showing us your ways back to the Luminal source?”
Grande didn’t look around, his gaze was fixed upon the Serena as she made her slow progress towards them.
“I know you mean well Ryann Wade,” he sighed. “But I have spoken oaths to protect the knowledge of my people. I wish you well, but I cannot help you further.”
Ryann went to press him to change his mind, but at that moment the final two Interceptors shot in through the shields and his words were lost in the blast of their engines.
“Go well Ryann Wade!” he heard the big man call over the chaos, but Ryann was already sprinting across to the landing pad, Mara Kobo at his side.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
BACK IN THE FIGHT
Ryann pulled himself up the footholds to the Interceptor as the cockpit canopy was still opening, practically dragging the surprised pilot from his seat.
He glanced across to the ship alongside him and saw Mara do the same. For a moment he felt another pang of jealousy.
He shook his head, trying to focus as he saw Ashe power her Interceptor off the landing pad. It was instantly clear that the ship was in the hands of a pilot far more skilled than the Outlanders. The sleek little craft looked weightless as it rose up, its landing struts retracting.
There was a brief flash from its engines and the Interceptor accelerated almost faster than Ryann’s eye could follow. It flipped over in a dizzying spiral and shot out through the protective shields in a shower of sparks.
“Damn she’s good,” Ryann heard himself whisper as he leapt down into the cockpit, quickly scanning through the unfamiliar controls. It was years since he had flown anything other than the Raven, and the tight compression of the grav-seat moulding to the contours of his body felt claustrophobic for a second.
But then the adrenaline kicked in and he was suddenly back in the days of his youth when he used to race planet-surfers around the local debris-fields with his friends. He was crazier then, and hadn’t considered the consequences of sitting upon what was basically a quad-tuned pulse jet — he was constantly surprised that he had survived his youth.
He felt the familiar throb as the drives engaged, threatening to shake the whole ship apart.
No different to his old racer, he thought with a moment’s trepidation — except now he had four armour-piercing chain guns mounted in the nose of his ship and two ram-lasers slung beneath its stubby wings. Ryann couldn’t contain the grin spreading across his features in spite of everything as he kicked in the drives and felt the ship shudder, straining to be let free.
This was going to be one hell of a ride, he laughed.
“Are you ready to go Ryann?” He heard Mara’s voice in his helmet and Ryann looked across to see him staring back from the cockpit.
&nb
sp; “Just make sure you keep out of my way,” hissed Ryann angrily and gunned the engines.
The flyer screamed out of the docking bay like a bullet.
In an instant Ryann’s senses were assaulted by chaos. The shapes of the refugee ships flew past him in a blur as he fought to control the Interceptor, unused to the acceleration and responsiveness of the controls.
The silver streak of a Luminal drone flashed into view between two cargo barges and Ryann tried to bring his guns to bear, but he had overshot them in an instant, and he slammed the little ship into a spin, swooping out into the open space around the fleet.
For a moment he had a bird’s eye view of the battle, and he gazed down into the chaos below. He could see that throughout the ragged flotilla of refugee ships, many were burning now, some spinning slowly away from the others, torn free from their moorings by the Luminal guns.
As he watched, a light began to form within the green clouds of the Halion Belt as the Luminal battleship unleashed another barrage of fire. Ryann saw the streak of light scorch through the clouds, exploding upon the edge of the open space. Several refugee ships rocked in the shockwave but they still seemed intact.
“That Luminal battleship’s getting closer!” called Ryann into his comms. “It can’t be far from the entrance to the Halion Belt!” He listened for a reply but there was only static in his ear.
He looked back down over the scene. The Ibis was still under heavy attack, but the main Luminal presence seemed to be focussing upon the Marianna. He could see the squat vessel swooping in and out of the fleet spitting a constant stream of fire from its turrets. A swarm of drone-ships followed behind in a dogged pursuit.
Ryann pulled his ship around, ready to dive back down to them, but as he watched the silver streak of Ashe’s Interceptor burst through the centre of them like a shark cutting through a shoal of fish. There was a series of brief explosions and two Luminal craft disappeared in flashes of white light. Ashe’s ship darted away, swooping over the refugee ships and then back down to be lost amongst them.