by L. Fergus
“Serge just fired, Admiral,” said Combat Control.
“Dammit,” said Sheppard. “What did they hit?”
“They took a shot at Maine, ma’am.”
“Damage?”
“No report yet, ma’am.”
Sheppard turned to Kita. “What do you want to do?”
“Me? I have no idea.”
“This is your show.”
“You’re in command.”
“Of the forces. The strategic decision is yours.”
“Where are we at getting the fighters out the door?” Kita called to the Air Boss.
“Sixty percent of the squadrons have launched.”
“Can we launch if we start The Sprint?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kita looked at Sheppard. “Then we go now. Tell Jess to release her viruses and get those ships of yours firing, concentrating on the lead ships.”
“You got it,” said Sheppard. She yelled for Combat Control.
Kita moved next to Defiance. “The question is: Where is Fort Ticonderoga?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they left the parking brake on.”
Kita rolled her eyes. Such simple mistakes had held up missions before.
“Jess, how goes the virus release?”
“We’re contacting the ships now and unpacking the viruses. It’s going to take a while.”
Kita nearly choked. “Get the lead ships first.”
“Who?” said Valor.
“Serge and Growler, followed by Snarl, Stomp, Sludge, Scar, Slash, Swoop, Slag, and Grimlock. After that, it’s the back half and get through them as fast as you can.”
“Who picked these code names anyway? They sound like Transformers.”
“I thought you did,” said Kita.
“Maybe it was Rene.”
“Get to work.”
“On it.”
Kita looked at Defiance. “Jess says it’s going to take a while to deploy the viruses.”
“So my ships are left firing at invincible targets? Great.”
“Nearly invincible targets. The Djinn shields will slow down the shells.” Kita snapped her fingers. “Rene, do we have high explosive shells on board the ships?”
“Yes, why?”
“They detonate on impact right?”
“They can be set that way.”
“Tell the ships to fire HE shells. Save the kinetic rounds for when the shields are down.”
Sheppard nodded. “I get what you’re saying. Combat Control!”
“We can still hurt them,” Kita said the Defiance. “It won’t be in vain.”
“Admiral, battle group one just announced it lost a frigate,” said Communications.
“Rodger,” said Sheppard.
Kita sighed. The first of many. “Rene, let’s get out of here,” urged Kita.
“Ok. Engineering, kick it in the ass and get us to the other side.”
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
Kita felt the ship’s velocity increase. It took a second to adjust. She looked over the Air Boss’ shoulder. Enterprise had launched eighty-five percent of the fighters.
“Kita! Serge and Growler are down,” said Valor.
“Great. We can finally do something.” Kita looked for Sheppard. “Rene, the first two ships are down. Release the kraken!”
“The what?”
“Send the fighters and tell the other ships to target Serge and Growler with kinetic rounds.”
The holotable showed Black Station Six on the far side, with the three battle groups near it. On the far side were Enterprise and the Djinn ships. Enterprise was inching away from the Djinn as they maneuvered into a line. The two lead ships were showing yellow. They’d been damaged, but not critically. It’s also a best guess by the computer. The fighters had reversed course from Black Station Six to attack the Djinn ships.
This was the point Kita feared. There was no going back at this point. The fear tickled her toes. Silently, she urged the Enterprise on the holotable to move faster.
“Fighters coming into range of Djinn ships,” said Sensors.
“That should give them something other than us to worry about,” Kita said to Defiance.
Enterprise shook.
“They’re early,” muttered Kita.
“Damage report?” said Defiance as the ship shook again.
“Shields and armor are holding, Your Highness,” said Engineering.
“Look, Swoop is breaking ranks,” said Defiance, pointing at the holotable.
Kita cringed. “That’s a boarding ship.” The smaller, lighter ship was moving across the formation fast.
“Why would they try and board us from the aft? They’ll hit the engines,” said Sheppard.
“If we had the old engines,” said Kita. “The SLIP drives don’t have any emissions. They’d come straight into the engine room. That’s the last place we want them.”
“Should we turn?”
“Keep going straight. If we put enough distance between us, it’ll be too far for the boarding sleds to travel.” On the holotable Swoop gained on the much larger and heavier Enterprise. “Jess!”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to attack Swoop.”
“But that’s down the list.”
“It’s trying to board us.”
“Ok, on it.”
“Rene!” called Kita.
“Yeah?”
“Tell them to concentrate fire on Swoop. The shields should be coming down.”
“Swoop has closed,” said Defiance. “Five hundred yards. She’s turning.”
Kita tapped the Swoop icon on the holotable and brought up a live feed. “Navigation. On my mark perform a crash turn ninety degrees to port.”
On the live feed, Swoop fired hundreds of boarding sleds. A high explosive shell exploded off Swoop’s bow illuminating them.
“Mark!” Kita yelled.
Enterprise turned hard, throwing Kita against the holotable. She grabbed Defiance. Sheppard held onto a workstation. The violent maneuver threw several people from their seats. Shudders ran through Enterprise as the boarding sleds slammed into the ship.
“Damage!” cried Sheppard.
“We have hull breaches in the port aft area. Runways one and two have been damaged, ma’am.”
“Are they in the engine room?” demanded Kita.
“Yes, ma’am. We have hull breaches, but the engines remain undamaged.”
“Kerri, take your team and guard the engine room. Get there as fast as possible.”
“We’re on it,” said Babydoll. “Opening a rift gate.”
“Everyone else move toward the back of the ship, port side to repel boarders. Athena, do what you can to slow them down.”
“Decompression doors have closed. They will delay the boarders.”
“Security!” called Sheppard. “Get your people armed and moving to repel boarders.”
Kita drew her swords.
“Where are you going?” said Defiance.
“To kill some kitties.”
Defiance grabbed Kita’s arm. “We need you here. There is a wider battle that needs to be fought. Let the others handle it. That’s why they are there.”
Enterprise shook violently as Swoop fired a broadside attack at close range.
“Jess!” cried Kita.
“We’re working on it. Ok, shields are coming down. Engines and weapons in a few more bars.”
“Rene, shields are down. Tell the others to fire on Swoop.”
“Wilco.”
Kita had the live feed open when Swoop disappeared in a violent fireball. “Hit! Keep it up. Navigation, turn to starboard. Get us back on a course to friendly lines.”
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
On the holotable, the Djinn fleet was halfway through completing their deployment. Soon they’d be able to bring their full weapons to bear, and life would become interesting.
There was a bright flash on the live feed as Swoop broke apart.
“Swo
op is gone, Rene,” said Kita.
“Combat Control, shift targeting priorities back to Serge and Growler,” ordered Sheppard.
Kita checked the Djinn ship’s status. Serge was red and Growler orange. She shook her head. It was taking a lot more firepower than they had planned to destroy the Djinn ships. Where in the Crushing Depths is Fort Ticonderoga?
Enterprise shook again. This time the computer said the attack had come from Stomp. The Djinn were coming online. Kita willed Enterprise to move faster. They were halfway there.
A loud explosion reverberated through the ship.
“What was that?” said Kita. “That didn’t feel like it came from outside.”
“There was an explosion in the engine room, ma’am,” reported Engineering. “Engine power is dropping.”
“Dammit,” Sheppard, Kita, and Defiance said together.
“Kerri, what happened?”
“Suicide bomber detonated against one of the drive cores. There was nothing we could do to stop it.”
“Get them out of there.”
“We are. Some are dug in, and we have to go in and get them.”
“Who’s closest to the engine room?” demanded Kita.
“We are,” said Stormy.
“Get there and help Kerri. We can’t lose any more drive cores.”
“Moving now.”
“We’re down a drive core,” Kita reported to Defiance and Sheppard.
“We’re going to be a sitting duck,” grunted Defiance.
“Ma’am, an explosion has ripped Serge in half,” reported Sensors.
“Flight Control,” called Sheppard. “Shift forces to finish off Growler and start on Snarl and Stomp. Send wizzos to blind the other ships. Rotate squadrons back in to rearm and refuel.”
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
Enterprise bucked wildly as several shells hit at once.
“Jess,” urged Kita.
“We’re working as fast as we can. I’m sorry. Six ships left.”
Kita grunted in frustration. “Alex!”
“Huh? I mean, yeah?”
“Where are you?”
“Helping the fleet take down these ships,” said Jammer.
“I need you to blind Drag, Snag, Fang, Smash, Bash, and Blast. Enterprise is getting shot up.”
“I can’t get to all of them.”
“Get to the ones you can. Anything to take the pressure off Enterprise.”
“Ok. I’m on my way.”
“Rene!” called Kita. “Split the fighters and have them hit Drag, Snag, Fang, Smash, Bash, and Blast. We’ve got to get them thinking about something other than us.”
“I’ll do my best. We’ve got squadrons rotating in to reload.”
The elevator door opened and Sahara stepped out. “You traitor!” she snarled and pointed at Kita. “You will die for betraying Collector.”
A corner of Kita’s mouth ticked up. Sahara is up early. Glad the bionanite package I gave her was effective. “No, I won’t. You can’t kill me. They,” Kita waved at the holotable’s line of Djinn ships, “can’t kill me. Collector made a deal with the devil. I said I would lead his forces against the humans and I have. I’ve fulfilled my part of the bargain. There was no deal for what happened afterward—you weren’t the only ones looking to the devil for help.”
Defiance raised an eyebrow. Kita shrugged. A little revisionist history, but it sounds good.
“I won’t kill you,” said Sahara. “I will beat you and drag you back to Collector where you will face his wrath.”
“You have to beat me first.”
“Kita! This isn’t the time to be brawling on the bridge,” cried Sheppard.
“Don’t blame me. I’m not starting it.”
Sahara drew one of her curved, double-bladed daggers and threw it at Kita. As the blade flew through the air, ice-encased it and it landed on the deck with a dull thud.
“None of that,” said Defiance.
Sahara snarled and screamed. She ran forward and leaped at Kita.
Kita jumped and met Sahara. Twisting to dodge Sahara’s claws, Kita grabbed her by the shoulders, flapped her wings hard to make them summersault, and threw Sahara into the deck. Kita landed next to Sahara and picked her up by the throat. She raised Sahara over her head and slammed her against the floor.
Sahara kicked with her back claws. Kita ducked and pushed Sahara’s legs aside with her wing and slammed her fist down on Sahara’s chest, knocking the wind out of her lungs. Coughing, Sahara tried to roll away.
Kita caught Sahara by the scruff of the neck and her tail. With a powerful swing, Kita threw Sahara against the glass dome ceiling. Sahara landed in a heap on the deck. Kita punched Sahara several times in the back to stun her. She brought her fist up for one more blow.
“Kita! Stop!” cried Snowy from the elevator. She and Anthrax ran to Kita. “Don’t! Please,” pleaded Snowy.
Kita stood up. “What did I tell you?”
“I’ve been talking to her. I promise. We left for a few minutes to help the wounded and she got up and ran.”
Kita shook Sahara. “What don’t you understand? I’m giving you your freedom in exchange for nothing. All you have to do is walk away. You’ll be free to do whatever you like, with whoever, whenever you want. I’ve taken care of all the hard details.”
“You don’t offer freedom,” hissed Sahara, “you brainwash and enslave people.”
Kita chuckled. “That would make life much easier, but I don’t. I make friends, and I earn their loyalty. I don’t buy loyalty like Collector. My friends aren’t sworn to me. They’re here because they want to be. They help me, and I help them. They don’t have to and are free to come and go. I’ve had five leave already.
“I’m guessing being Collector’s daughter has won you some freedom from being a normal Djinn female slave, but you are indentured to him. I can’t respect how he, or the Djinn in general, treat their females. You’re more than property to be won. You’re people with your own thoughts and feelings. You deserve better. I can’t free all the Djinn females, but I can free you. Please, take it. For you and for them. Change starts with one.”
“How can I trust you?” demanded Sahara.
“You survived that beating I gave you without a scratch—I just winded you. I gave you a gift. You have the basic Angel package of bionanites—my gift for you. It’s the first step to becoming an Angel. What I give you is yours to keep, no matter what you decide to do. Every Angel gets this deal. I hope they’ll keep you safe on your journey.”
“You changed me?” snarled Sahara.
“That’s right. Snowy wants you kept safe. That means I want you safe.”
Sahara turned to Snowy. “You trust her after what she’s done?”
“Kita doesn’t do anything without a reason, even death serves her purpose. I trust her. She wouldn’t betray Collector without good reason.”
Sahara’s hackles rose. “You betray him even after all he’s done for you?”
“I did what I said I would do. I got him Kita, and I got her to cooperate. I never promised for how long.”
Sahara bared her fangs. “You betray me then?”
“Never,” said Snowy. “I love you, and I would never hurt you. I’m working with Kita to keep us safe and give us a new home. A place where we can live like we want—wild and free.”
“We were going to do that on Gre’ll,” hissed Sahara.
Snowy laid her ears flat against her head. “We would be under your father’s thumb, needing him for protection. With Kita we’ll be free—no strings attached. We’ll be under the protection of the UEE.”
Sahara scoffed. “They can’t stop my father’s ships! What good are they?”
“I think we’re holding our own in this battle,” said Sheppard.
“You have my word you will be safe,” said Defiance. “The planet you will be going to will be quarantined and guarded. No one without my authority will be allowed there.”
“My father has mor
e ships. He will crush you,” said Sahara.
“I’m not out of tricks yet,” said Sheppard.
On the holotable Enterprise was nearing friendly lines. Nothing had hit the ship in the last few minutes.
“Admiral!” Sensors cried urgently.
“What is it?” said Sheppard. She looked at Kita warily.
“New contacts dropping out of FTL fifty miles behind the Djinn line. Unknown ship types. I’ve got twenty-five…thirty…fifty…eighty new contacts.”
Kita went cold. That’s more than I can destroy before they get Enterprise.
“Kita, tell me this is a Verisom or Diamock fleet come to help us,” said Sheppard.
“I haven’t made any arrangements with them.”
“It is my father’s fleet come to protect me,” said Sahara.
“Kita, we don’t have the firepower to go against them,” said Sheppard.
To punctuate her words Enterprise shook violently.
“We’re almost there,” said Kita pointing to the holotable. Several UEE ships disappeared from the map.
“We have to collect all the fighters before we jump,” said Defiance.
“If we collect them then we lose our best defense,” said Sheppard.
“We can’t abandon them!”
“What good does it do us to retreat?” said Sheppard. “We have nowhere to retreat to.”
“Yes we do,” said Defiance. “We go to Neptune.”
“What is there?”
“The Neptune Orbital Station started as a ring of anti-ship guns. The habitat grew up around them.”
“Those guns haven’t fired in centuries,” cried Sheppard.
“They still have crews, Admiral. Make the call and get them moving. Then get us turned and moving to Neptune. I want to show these bastards what a big gun looks like.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Communications, get me the Neptune Orbital Guns.”
“Combat Command,” said Defiance, “get our people turned around and ready to jump for Neptune. Flight Command, recover all fighters.”
Enterprise vibrated, and the power blinked.
“Athena, what happened?” said Kita.
“Power fluctuation in the transformers. I’ve corrected the problem, but it’s going to be the first of many if we keep taking damage.”
“Where is Fort Ticonderoga?”
“I don’t know,” said Athena. “Some of our communications are being jammed. If I knew where they were, I could connect via tight beam.”