by Scott Lucas
“I knew him,” he said. “I appreciate your gratitude, but I recommend you keep your distance from now on.”
The young technician nodded, then ducked through the hatchway and hurried to catch up with the rest of the colonists.
Tem performed a more thorough walk-around of the Wyvern Star than he had done when running for his life. Now that the AI was operational, he focused on the weapons systems. He did not have the right spare parts and doubted that the abandoned mining facility had a stocked mechanic’s station. The EMP was not an option anymore. He needed a specific kind of charge, and the one he possessed had burned itself out with the last EMP pulse.
About two hours later, he received a message from Ahmad that the colonists were all situated as possible, and that the colony heads were meeting to discuss how to proceed. Ahmad arrived in person. They embraced.
“I am really tiring of meetings,” Tem muttered.
Ahmad chuckled. “Welcome to my life. I tired of meetings almost a decade ago.”
Their meeting place was far different from the conference room on Roschin colony. It looked like it had once been a break room for the workers.
Vosper had brought an old handheld data pad and had placed it in the middle of the room’s table. The screen displayed a layout of Roschin colony, most of the corridors packed with red dots. Each dot represented an android.
“We have to retake the base,” said Vosper. “It’s no good to us overrun by rogue androids.”
“Very true,” Ahmad said. “One shipment is a victory even if they’ve sabotaged our means of production.”
“Here’s the feed from several of the last functioning security cameras on the asteroid.” Orba tapped the screen in front of her, and a three-dimensional holographic layout materialized over the conference table. The translucent white replicas of the colony hallways was packed with red dots, each corresponding to an android homing device.
“They’re gathering at the entrances.” The usually taciturn Garrow spoke. He stood up and pointed one of his thick fingers toward a part of the hologram. “Whoever’s controlling these things expects an assault.”
“How many androids are down there?” Tem asked.
“About five hundred,” Vosper whispered.
Tem was already calculating the attack. He preferred it to sitting in conference. An hour had passed since his most recent battle, and he was already roaring for a new one.
“Can we deactivate them?” Orba asked Arno.
Arno shook his head. “Not from here. After the terrifying ordeal with the rogue android, we retrofitted all the others with a kill switch located inside the cybernetics lab.”
Tem watched the cybernetics chief, but the only nervousness he saw in the man’s face seemed to come from concern for his livelihood. Still, he had diverted suspicion away from the base. That was a reasonable move when suspicion had fallen almost on Arno’s department. Still, Arno modified many androids just after the first one went rogue. There was a definite possibility that the first android’s attack should provoke a mass inspection. It was a perfect time to reprogram the masses.
Tem looked at the holographic display of the colony. “We assembled the androids at the entrances to the colony. We clustered a good number of them in the landing bay. The androids have deserted the mineshafts. Is there a surface entrance to the tunnels?” Tem asked as he pointed to that section of the layout. “They’ve almost abandoned this area. Could be our way in.”
Vosper pointed to the edge of the hologram’s scope. “There’s a crevice just beyond there, one of the newer tunnels that only just met up with the main. It’s a climb, but we could pilot some smaller ships in there to the access point.”
Tem leaned over the hologram, too. “They sealed the entry hatches into dead ends. They’re waiting for us to open one up. If we trap them in here while another team turns off the androids.”
“We could wipe it clean.” Garrow slapped his palms down on the table. “I can have my security force ready to go in twenty minutes.”
Chapter Fifteen: Kill Switch
Three groups set out for the overrun colony in three small shuttlecrafts. Tem, Garrow, and security sub-commander, Arman Fletch each commanded a five-person team.
Sub-commander Fletch’s team would be responsible for clearing the landing bay, and they tasked Garrow would flush out the lower levels. Tem’s team would regain the observation tower and deactivating the androids.
The shuttles coasted around the dark side of the asteroid and approached the colony with only the dim lights on.
“Everyone in position?” Tem asked Garrow and Fletch.
“Affirmative,” Garrow answered.
“Making our approach now,” Fletch said.
They arrived during the brief semi-darkness that, on such a small land mass, made up as pre-dawn. The sun lit the lip of the crevice as the shuttle disappeared from sight. The crevice was completely in shadow, still dark compared to the rapid dawn up above.
The squadron donned their helmets and drifted out into the crevice. They attached each member of the squadron to the shuttle by a pylon. Headlamps flickered and illuminated the cavern walls.
Fletch grabbed a coil of thin pylon and pushed himself off one of the crevice walls at an angle. He glided away down the crevice, resembling a swimmer who did not move his arms or legs. The pylon played out behind him, and after a few minutes, it became taught as a tightrope. The squadron transferred themselves securely from the shuttles onto the pylon and repelled themselves down the length of the crevice.
They proceeded in single file in the colony's direction. The observation tower was the only visible part of the otherwise subterranean structure still illuminated at the time of the evacuation. A sealed hatchway stood closed at the end of the path, sealing off the rest of the mine off from the open space.
Fletch jabbed the passcode into the buttons on the access panel, which opened onto a chamber equalized to external pressure.
Once the squadron passed into the chamber, Tem, whose team brought up the rear, pulled the hatch closed and engaged the door seal. The squadron hovered in formation as the room gradually depressurized and drifted down onto their feet with varying degrees of grace as the room assumed an artificial state of gravity.
The door at the opposite end of the chamber displayed a light that changed from red to green, and Fletch pulled the handle to swing it open. The squadron stood at attention and awaited orders.
Tem pulled up the scanner inside his helmet that would alert the squadron to the proximity of any androids as they fit each android with a homing beacon.
“No hostiles in range,” Fletch said. “File in.”
He gestured tersely to the nearest men, who moved through the open hatch and into the mines. The tunnels were a warren through the heart of the asteroid, often moving almost vertically or with hairpin switchbacks. The squadron ascended several ladders to levels closer to the surface. There was no sign of androids throughout the entire network.
The squadron emerged from a branching tunnel onto the main shaft, which was about ten feet wide and lit from the ceiling by glowing strips. It was the first area of the mine they had come to where they did not have to walk single file, and the group spread out as Fletch moved down the shaft with his scanner to investigate. He brought two other gunmen with him, and the rest remained restlessly with Garrow and Tem. They could still see the scouting party for fifty feet under the lights until the shaft turned a corner toward the colony. There was silence for several minutes, during that time the men made minute adjustments to their equipment.
Fletch’s voice came over the radio suddenly. “Still nothing. We’re just outside the hatch.”
Another comm channel in Tem’s helmet beeped suddenly. Tem turned the switch.
“Temirlan!” Vosper’s voice blasted over the link at a shout that threw static into Tem’s ear. “The beacons!”
“What about them?”
“The homing beacons for the androids. The
y all went dead. You’re blind down there!”
Tem switched over to the squadron feed. “Stand down, Fletch. Don’t open that hatch!”
A shriek came down the tunnel, over the radio.
“Yark!” Garrow readied his blaster and charged down the shaft. “With me!”
Tem was almost in sync with him. The group charged down the passage toward the entrance to the colony.
By the time they arrived at the hatchway, one of Fletch’s two escorts, Aedar Callin, had an android’s pickaxe through his helmet and into his skull. Just as quickly, the android shook the man’s limp body off and the man slumped into a heap on the cavern floor.
“Run!” Arman Fletch yelled.
There were eight androids in the shaft. When the attack force arrived, they opened fire as the androids charged them. Fletch and his remaining escort ran down two of the androids and dropped them with modified stun clubs to the weak point at the base of the spine. It was a tight fit, and the androids did not stop for flesh or stone.
“We’ve got to get behind them!” Garrow shouted.
He switched back to the squadron channel. The rest of the group began to make their way up to the colony hatchway. Whatever else came this direction, the men left in the tunnel would have to meet it. There was no barricading the shaft or retreating unless they wanted to flee back to the crevice.
“I guess they know we’re coming,” Fletch said. “Unless we want to get bitten in the ass heading back to the surface.”
Garrow flipped the switch on his stun club. “We’re getting this colony back.” He turned toward those who stood in the tunnel. “I need five volunteers from any groups to stay with the injured and guard our retreat. Get the injured down the tunnel where the smaller shafts branch off. You’ll have a little shelter.
“Tem will clear a path toward the cybernetics lab. My group will clear the route to the observation tower. Fletch, get down there with your people and sweep the landing bay. Remember, everyone, get behind them. If someone else is drawing their attention, jump ‘em.” He gave a signal with his free hand. “Move out.”
The three groups moved as one across the refinery floor. The androids had left tubs brimming with ore abandoned on the tracks that emerged from the tunnel. Another hatchway at the opposite end had fallen off its hinges and into the corridor beyond. Garrow waved the men forward.
During the evacuation and the androids’ takeover of the colony, the main lights either flickered or went dark. Only the red emergency lights shined now, and the group kept their headlamps off for fear of detection.
When they hit an intersection, Tem waved his own group into the cybernetics' direction lab. Garrow took his group down the central tunnel toward the upper levels, and Fletch’s group made their way toward the landing bay on the sunward side of the asteroid. They crept along in silence for several minutes.
A lone android rounded the corner at the far end of the hallway. Silent, with an impassive face, it lurched suddenly into a sprint toward them.
“Get around it!” Tem roared.
Tem moved faster than the others and was nearly on top of the android before the men had moved.
The android and Paladin clashed. Tem’s advantage on the machine was that he had more than a few programmed maneuvers. Tem grabbed the android and fell on top of it. The android bucked and twisted beneath him. He grabbed the android’s weapon arm and twisted the android over onto its face.
“Zap him!” Tem shouted, but as the others raced into range, the android threw Tem off.
The android struggled to its feet and twisted around to punch Tem in the helmet with its free hand. As the android reared back for another blow, Tem caught its wrist. The android’s arms jerked to get at Tem’s head again.
Tem’s knee hit the ground. He was about to fall onto his back when one member of the squadron slid into place behind the android and delivered a bolt from his stun club to the back of its head. The android’s weight dropped forward on top of Tem, who shoved it to the side. He stood and armed his baton again.
Footsteps clamored from the same direction. Three more androids charged toward the group.
The five others instinctively kept behind Tem, hoping to recreate the scenario that had brought the other android down. Tem ran and met the middle android, tackling him to the ground. Two soldiers dodged the swinging pickaxes but the androids thrust one man against the wall and caught another with a pickaxe into his shoulder. The two men who had escaped turned to aid their comrades, and they left Tem to struggle against his android on his own for several moments.
Tem flung the android off and pin its head to the wall long enough to get a charge into its access panel. Tem faced the corridor where three of the five men were down and the other two, Ford and Asher, were working together to bring down the last standing android. Tem ran toward them, but Asher shoved his stun club and zapped the android himself. Ford dropped the motionless android and ran toward the man who had a pickaxe in his shoulder.
“Keep still, Wes.” Ford kneeled down and examined the point where the pickaxe disappeared into Wes’ armor. Wes continued to shriek hysterically. His hands were quivering madly in their armored gloves.
Tem followed and put a hand on Ford’s shoulder. “Move aside.”
He kneeled, thought of the seaside on his home planet, and touched the injured man’s eyes. Wes’ eyelids dropped, and he went instantly limp. Ford caught him.
“What did you-”
“He’s sleeping.” He glanced over at Asher, who still stood over the other fallen android. “How far to the landing bay?”
“It’s at the end of the corridor.”
“Do you have the charges?”
Asher unhooked a belt of charges from over his shoulder. Tem stood and took them. “Stay here.”
He started down the corridor with the charges in one hand and his baton in the other. There were footsteps behind him as Asher caught up. “I thought you told us to watch each other’s backs.”
“I don’t think that will help with what I have in mind.”
Asher looked at the charges. “Can’t we just chuck them in?”
“They’ll be charging the door. We have to get the charges behind them. That’s where the weak spot is.” He held up the belt between them. “Do these have delayed detonation?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.”
Tem stopped at the entrance to the cybernetics lab. There was no way of telling how many androids waited on the other side. He hoped there were not too many.
“Hurry!” Asher screamed. “They’re coming!”
Tem opened the door to the cybernetics lab. The door opened and Tem found three more androids waiting for him.
“It figures,” Tem whispered to himself.
“Close the door behind me,” Tem said.
Ford and Asher dragged inside and shut the door behind them.
Tem dodged, weaved, and zapped the first android.
One android slipped past Tem and slashed its pickaxe into Asher before Tem brought it down. The last one was easy for Tem. After the final one dropped, Tem made it to the terminal.
On the other side of the room, more androids were banging on the door.
Tem ignored the door and focused on the terminal. He went through the instructions Arno Wurth told him.
The banging behind him grew louder. Ford screamed. A pickaxe cut into the door. The cut grew deeper with every hit.
Tem executed the kill switch command and seconds later, the banging on the door ceased. Tem and Ford exhaled and panted until they could calm down.
“Tem!” Ahmad’s voice was nearly a shriek in Tem’s ear. Tem pressed hand to the side of his helmet.
“What?”
“There’s another dreadnaught coming.”
“I can’t help you, my old friend.”
“No, Temerlain. The dreadnaught is approaching the colony. It’s coming for you.”
∆∆∆
There was a knock on the door at
the cybernetics lab. Tem and Ford tensed until they heard Garrow yell, “It’s us. Open the door.”
Tem opened the door and Garrow stepped inside dragging a badly wounded Fletch.
“What happened?”
“There were a lot more than we thought. Fletch took a pickaxe to the stomach. You shut down the androids just in time. They almost got us.”
“We need to get going,” Tem said. “I heard there is a dreadnaught on its way here.”
“Is that so?” Garrow said. “I will leave Fletch here and get the shuttle ready.”
“The airlock next to the crevice. I’ve got a man with a ruptured suit. He can’t go out in space.”
“Stand by,” Vosper said. “The pirates are ten minutes from the colony. Hopefully Garrow can slip past them.”
Fletch leaned his head back against the wall. The front of his suit was a bloody mess.
Tem crossed the small space and crouched down in front of him. “Did you hear me?”
“Garrow is getting a shuttle.”
Fletch chuckled. Blood bubbled in his mouth. Not a good sign.
“I’ll call Garrow and…”
Tem lurched forward, shot in the back. His suit took the impact, but the blast still knocked the wind out of him.
“I feel bad about this,” Fletch admitted and coughed. “You saved my life. But one soldier to another, I think you can understand. Orders are orders.”
Fletch fired again. It went wide, but killed Ford. Tem stood and started toward him. Fletch’s face was expressionless as the androids. He fired until he spent his charges. Most of his shots went wide.
Tem kicked the blaster out of Fletch’s hand. “What orders? How are you contacting the pirates?”
Fletch laughed. It was a choking wet sound, and blood bubbled at the corners of his lips, as he seemed to choke on the wretched mirth. He struggled to speak. “This... has nothing to do... with pirates. They told me to kill you. We should wipe you filthy traitors out like Patriarch Quoros demands.”
Tem sat back against the wall of the airlock. Fletch’s attack had nothing to do with pirates or the colony or shipments of priceless ore. He was a zealot follower of the Star Chamber who seized an opportunity to eradicate what he saw as the Paladin menace.