A comm was opened to Midelon. "Idiot, we seem to be missing a number of Burrell transport ships. See if you can find them. And see if they have any warships with them in support. And make that search a priority."
Several minutes passed before Idiot returned status. "I have four hundred Burrell troop transports parked on the surface at Helm. There are just over two thousand cruisers in orbit above."
"Two thousand? These numbers don't add up. How'd they get more? And Helm? Why would they be there?"
"I cannot say, sir."
Harris opened a comm to Bax. "We asked you to deliver weapons to the Biomarines. Was that done?"
"Yes. Why?"
"The Burrell have four hundred troop transports parked there and another two thousand cruisers. You know anything about that?"
"I don't have any reports of such. Is this new?"
"Of course it's new."
"When this is concluded, which should be any minute, I'll look into it."
Harris turned the Bangor toward Helm. Fifteen minutes later they were moving toward the planet's atmosphere. The Burrell cruisers were making their own move back to free space.
Harris opened a comm back to Gondol. "Bax, I think you're about to have visitors. The Burrell cruisers are about to jump."
"How many? And why are you helping me?"
"All of them. We're showing two thousand, forty six. You gonna be able to handle them?"
"Not sure."
"They're jumping now. And it's Gondol. And we're doing this because of what I said earlier. I'd rather be slave to a Human than an alien species."
"Crap. Got them. Wish me luck."
The comm closed.
Tawn shook her head. "She's out of missiles. And surprise tactics. Don't think this is gonna go well for her."
"Might be just what we need. If both of those forces wipe each other out, we're back in the clear. At least for the moment."
Tawn pointed at the nav display. "What are we gonna do about those troops?"
A comm was opened to Midelon and the Hailstorm called into service. Side by side, the two free warships entered the atmosphere and descended on the Burrell troop haulers. Two were immediately destroyed before several others opened fire.
Harris scowled as he turned the Bangor hard left, narrowly avoiding a powerful laser beam. "Crap. I was hoping their defenses would be minimal. Hailstorm, take it in low. Use the terrain to pop up and take shots."
Tawn said, "Bioscan shows a force of a hundred thousand marching toward the colonel. What's our priority?"
Harris opened a general comm. "Colonel, you there?"
"Gruberg? Where are you?"
"You have a hundred thousand Burrell soldiers heading your way on foot. Probably fifteen minutes from your position. We're working to take out their transports. They had a large cruiser escort, but those have returned to Gondol."
"Why have they not eliminated us with the ships?"
"We're knocking those ships out now. My best guess is they want to capture you, not kill you."
"Save us a couple of those transports if you would. We'd like to get off this rock."
""Will try, but those transports are armed with at least one heavy laser each. Gonna take us a while to clear them."
"Send us the coordinates of the nearest ships."
"Not sure you want to leave the protection of that structure, Colonel. If you have water, you may want to stick it out and defend yourself from there."
"Not happening. This building will collapse on us if we're attacked. It's just a shell. And there are no defensible positions within it. We'd be lucky to last ten minutes."
"Passing the coordinates to you now. If you head straight north through the pass between those hills, you should be able to outflank them."
"Outflank? We're taking a ship. If you can take out any guards they might have posted there externally, we'll handle the rest."
"Heading there now."
The Bangor lifted just above the hilltop, firing off several tungsten rounds before a powerful flash from a laser pulse sizzled past.
"Hold up a moment," said Tawn. "Another scan should give us the positions of any guards. I'll pass those to the computer for targeting. We pop up once and take out the lot of them. Then we move on."
"Agreed. The colonel will have to live with this one ship. There's too many others left. If that fight on Gondol ends and Bax loses, those cruisers will be headed back this way."
The guards were eliminated with a quick burst. The Bangor moved on to take out another twenty transports before a near direct hit filled the cabin with smoke.
Tawn yelled, "We're on fire!"
Harris violently jerked at the control stick. "And we're going down. Drive is failing. Get ready for a—"
The Bangor clipped the top of a hill before dropping hard and beginning to tumble. After a half dozen hard bounces, she came to a stop upside down in a ravine.
"...hard landing."
Tawn disconnected her belt and dropped to the ceiling. "Better get a move on. She might just burn to the ground."
Harris dropped, heading for a compartment that held a fire suppressor. Several small internal fires were extinguished, followed by an exit where the outer hull was ablaze. The suppressor, spraying out a fast-expanding foam, quickly had the fire out.
Tawn shook her head. "That's extensive. She's not flying anywhere."
Harris sighed as he looked around. "Grab ammo spares and as much water as you can carry. It goes fast out here. And if you can help it, don't open that facemask. The dry air here starts sucking the moisture out in an instant. Get your hydration from your suit-pack. Just keep it topped off as you never know when you're gonna lose that water."
Tawn chuckled. "You don't sound happy to be here."
"Let's hope whatever action we have here goes fast." Harris glanced back into the cabin hatch. "Farker? You OK, boy?"
"All systems are functioning properly, yes. Can I be of assistance?"
Tawn smirked. "You got another ship with you?"
"I'm afraid not. There is, however, a Burrell transport two-point-three kilometers from here."
"The one that shot us down?"
"Yes. And we have the Hailstorm."
Harris opened a comm. "Hailstorm, what's your status?"
"Five units to go. We've taken heavy damage, but remain intact. Should we come to your aid?"
"Finish off those five. We'll see if we can capture this one that shot us down. That will give the colonel the two ships he asked for."
Minutes later, the Hailstorm reported it was positioning for an assault on the final Burrell transport. As Tawn and Harris listened, the comm went silent. Repeated hails were not returned.
"This is not going well," Harris said. "And we're just out of range for a comm with the colonel."
"The transport should be just over this hill. We take it and we have a ride."
Farker said, "I have a map of the terrain surrounding this vessel. Might I suggest we come in from the south? The ground offers significant cover from that direction. However, we will have at least fifty meters of open to cover. Perhaps I can cause a diversion while you cover that distance?"
Harris stopped and looked down. "I can't say I'm fond of any of the bots we made, except my Idiot, he's cool, but the rest of them? No. You on the other hand, I can't say enough good things about you. You've been loyal, sacrificing, protective, and friendly. All I have left is to train you to fetch my MREs when it comes to meal time."
"A task that I am well suited for, sir. Consider me trained."
Harris grinned as Tawn shook her head.
The team worked their way around to the location Farker had suggested. Tawn peeked around the edge of a boulder as Harris looked over the terrain map floating above Farker's back.
Harris rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. Not sure about this guard position. They'll have a view of us coming up through here. That's probably about twenty seconds of exposure we don't need."
&
nbsp; Farker replied, "This is where I can also be a diversion. I will draw their attention as you and Tawn traverse that expanse, and then again as you move the final fifty meters."
Harris nodded as the robotic dog shut off its holo-display. "Give us a signal when you’re set to go."
The dog raced off behind the base of a hill.
Tawn winced. "That guard hasn't turned away from this direction."
"What I can't figure out is why they aren't doing continuous bioscans."
Tawn shrugged. "Don't know. But that ship does have some damage. I think we got blasted just as we fired our rounds. There's a big hole in the top of that hull just behind the guard."
Harris moved up. "Let me see. Great. The comm antennas are right behind that. Could be we wiped out their ability to scan. Which is good. But that hole may be our undoing. Can't fly in space without an atmosphere."
"I'm not so sure. We only need twenty minutes to get home. These suits will give us thirty."
"Two problems with that. Going up here and coming down at Midelon. We can't blaze through the atmosphere on either end. You'll have to double the time it would normally take. We won't have the air for that."
"Then we find a few Burrell suits and swipe the air from there."
"Possible. Let's just see if we can get on there first."
A dog's howl was followed by a rumble as Farker sent out a concussion wave. The wave had largely dissipated by the time of its arrival at the closest guard's post. Handheld laser fire returned.
Harris grabbed Tawn by the shoulder and pulled. "Come on!"
The duo raced across the first open expanse to the cover of another set of boulders. A full power pulse from the ship's main gun impacted the dirt on the hill just in front of the mechanical canine. The resulting firestorm of heated and expanding material shattered the silence of the day with a loud boom. Farker was tossed thirty meters in the air, falling to the ground silent on the opposite side of the hilltop he had occupied.
Harris continued running as Tawn slowed for the rocks. "What are you doing?" she whispered in an angry voice.
As Harris reached the mid-point of the final fifty meters, the guard began to turn back his way. Harris jumped, landing hard and sliding on his belly, aiming his weapon up at the startled guard. A single blast found its mark, splitting the Burrell soldier open and splattering his parts across the top of the hull.
Harris sprinted the final meters, waving back for Tawn to come forward. A deep sigh was followed by a hard run.
"You idiot," Tawn said. "Trying to get killed?"
"I had it covered. And we're here, aren't we?"
"Next time, try to give me some warning that you're planning something like that."
"Wasn't planned. The distraction was there so I took the opportunity to use it."
"I think Farker bought it."
"What?"
"That laser pulse hit his position hard. His comm isn't responding."
Harris sat in silence for several seconds before his concern turned to anger. "Let's get this circus over with."
Tawn circled toward the front of the two hundred meter long ship as Harris climbed up the side of the hull. Once atop, he hurried to the open blast hole, stopping only momentarily to glance at the scattered remains of the Burrell guard.
Seconds later, Tawn came over the comm. "I'm stuck. Can't go any further. Guard up here has the angle on me."
"Come back this way and circle around back. "I'm about to drop through the opening up top here. Don't know if I can get through any of the hatches, but it's worth a shot."
"Coming back your way, although the guard in back might have the same advantage with his position."
"If so, just climb up top here and see if you can get close enough for a shot."
Tawn chuckled. "I'm already close enough for a shot. I'm a level four, remember?"
"OK, then, get yourself in a position for a shot and shut up."
"What put you in such a foul mood?"
"Uh, my dog just got blasted? I see a hatch... and it's unlocked. Going in. Go make yourself useful."
— Chapter 16 —
* * *
Harris opened the hatch leading further into the Burrell vessel. After a quick glance down the hall in either direction, he stepped through, moving cautiously toward the front of the ship.
Tawn came over the open comm. "Scratch the back guard. Moving that way and around to the port side."
"Heading for the bridge. At least I hope I am. Moving forward."
Twenty meters of slow movement saw Harris Gruberg standing at the crossway with a side hall. After peeking around the corner and quickly pulling his head back, he proceeded to walk across at a normal pace.
Tawn asked, "Progress?"
"Haven't seen a soul yet. Kind of making me paranoid."
"You have a bioscanner on your arm. Why aren't you using it?"
Harris sighed. "Just getting too out of practice, I guess. OK. I've got nothing on this deck going forward. And only two Burrell all the way up front. Hang on... there they are. Fifteen crewmen scattered around aft."
Tawn said, "Port guard is down. Moving up that side of the ship."
"I'm taking out the two clowns up front. I suspect they're the ones working that laser cannon."
Tawn stopped. "I'm at a ramp leading in. Should I come your way or finish it up out here?"
"That forward guard should be the last. Take him down and then bring it inside. Wait... looks like half that crew from the back is moving forward. Take out that guard but be careful on the approach. They're alert that some kind of assault is going on. And when you come back toward that ramp, be careful. If I'm not yet done with them, they'll probably be waiting there for you."
"So take them out on your way."
"I want to get to that bridge before they decide to put this bird back in the air."
"Then why are you heading forward?"
"Good point. Turning now."
Tawn chuckled. "You certain you've done this stuff before?"
"I was. Thanks for highlighting that I'm losing my mind."
"Just trying to keep us both alive. When we get back, you can have Idiot work you out in a few simulations."
"I'm certain I could use that."
"Forward guard is down. Heading for the ramp."
Harris moved down a set of stairs. "Going to the base deck for the move up. Your ramp is on deck two. The Burrell… looks like seven of them… are gathering there."
Tawn grinned. "Scratch one Burrell. He stuck his head out the ramp door. I took it off. That should shake up the others."
"I show four still on the bridge. If that's what it is."
"There goes another. Why would you poke your head out the door when one of your mates just lost his doing the same? Starting to think the Burrell aren't all that bright. … and there goes another."
"I have four in a room about ten meters in front of me. All look to be seated."
"Seated or squatted? Those can look almost identical you know."
"Seated. They're all facing away from me."
"Wow. Just popped another. These guys are real morons."
"I'm moving on this room. Hmm… door is open. They're all watching a display. Don't even realize I'm standing here. Wait. It's the battle at Gondol. We have a live stream."
"Well, pass it to me!"
"Hold on… coming at you. Looks like Bax's ten thousand ships have been taking a beating. Two hundred of those Burrell to her fifteen hundred. And only showing about fifty Banshees left. And there's a huge mass of debris where those captured Burrell ships were forming up. Looks like they self-destructed."
"Five down. I'm moving up on that door."
Harris pulled his combat knife. "Doing this quietly."
Tawn said, "Crap, the remaining two are heading back toward you. And hey, they're looking at that display. Is that the bridge?"
"No, it’s not."
"That means the bridge is forward."
"I was h
eading there until you diverted me."
Tawn chuckled. "You make your own decisions. And if you weren't so busy entertaining yourself watching that space battle, you'd have already finished the job and been on the move forward. I'm up the ramp."
"One... two... three... and four. Aft has been cleared."
"Except for the two coming at you. I'm hustling after them, but I may be late to the party."
Several laser pulses impacted the far wall, knocking out the holo-display image generator. The three-dimensional expression of the starships and explosions faded from view.
Harris growled. "You little fur-covered turds are gonna pay for that."
Tawn said, "One is working his way toward that far door."
Harris nodded. "I got him. He'll only come halfway through it if he tries."
Harris heard a whump, followed by the thud of a body exploding. Tawn came back on the comm. "Yours to go."
Harris stood from his crouched position. "I'm rushing this one on the left."
"Your left or my left?"
"My left. Why would I say your left?"
Two whumps were followed by a thud.
Tawn stepped into the doorway with a grin. "Because you're a moron, just like Bax says."
The ship shuddered as it began to lift off the ground. The two Biomarines moved into the hall and sprinted toward the forward decks. The nearly two hundred meter run took just over twenty seconds. The hatch door leading onto the bridge was locked. Two blasts from a Saxon repeating plasma rifle saw the lock fail.
Harris kicked the door open as Tawn fired repeated rounds into the space. Harris followed with a dive and a roll. Two terrified Burrell crewman sat at their consoles. The stump fired two times before Tawn could call him off. Two thuds followed. The residual energy of the plasma rounds smashed into the consoles behind them.
The ship jerked violently, beginning to roll and plummet, the back end of the unguided vessel falling first. The Biomarines were tossed about as the inertial dampers failed. With a stroke of luck, their bodies had come to rest against the port wall just as the ship impacted the ground. The collapsing outer hull and inner structure worked to lessen the violence of the crash, leaving them stunned and bruised, but otherwise unharmed.
Tawn took a deep breath as she sat forward, rotating her right shoulder. "What's with you and crashing ships today?"
ARMS Helm's End: (Book 7) Page 14