Harbinger

by Ken Lozito

  Aurang finished what he was doing and turned back toward Chad and the others. “There’s been a complication. The area we need to get to has several maintenance crews nearby, along with soldiers. It's probably because of the storm, but there are a lot of defenses active.”

  “Did they detect us?” Chad asked.

  “No, there’s only a general warning about the poor weather. I’m going to need you to draw the soldiers away so we can get in to access the communications network. We don’t have much time.”

  Chad was aware of the time constraints. There was a scheduled uplink that was to be engaged from the planet and relayed through the space gate. They had to have their dummy data uploaded by that time, because after that, the space gate would become inoperable, courtesy of the Talon-V squadrons en route to do just that.

  “We can draw them off and then meet up with you,” Chad said.

  Aurang was quiet for a moment. Maybe he'd expected Chad to protest splitting up their forces. “Very well. We'll meet up at this location here.”

  This was the communication hub for the entire star system. Everything was routed through this location, but the authentication was handled through the monitoring station in orbit, which was then relayed to the space gate. Once all those things lined up, they'd proceed with an update to the Krake version of COMCENT. It was also the time they'd receive official updates from whatever command structure the Krake had.

  “Captain, I cannot overstate the importance of this. You must get those soldiers out of there in order for us to access this area. Here are the schematics of this place,” Aurang said. “Are you able to perform this task?”

  “We’ll get the job done. You just deliver on your promise to us.”

  “I haven’t forgotten, Captain,” Aurang said. Then he and the other Krake soldiers left them.

  Outside, the Spec Ops team gathered.

  “So now we’re a diversionary force,” Benton said.

  “That’s what they think,” Chad said and gestured toward Vladek. “We’re heading to the main complex, and once we distract those soldiers, I need you to access this specific console. There should be a linkup there.”

  The console was farther from the one Aurang was using, but it was their closest option. Krake communication protocols for high-level access were unique for secure systems. They hadn’t had time to duplicate it, so they had to use what was already in place if they wanted to access the same uplink systems.

  “I see it,” Vladek replied. “I monitored how Aurang accessed the system, and I should be able to do the same.”

  “Remember, we need the most recent updates sent and received. We don’t have time for a broad search, so we need to narrow it down to core system targets,” Chad said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  They made their way toward their target. They were moving around the outside but there weren’t many windows in the complex, and Chad guessed the Krake weren’t concerned with looking outside.

  “Bowren, let’s open some walls up. Target that building over there. It’s some kind of processing center. Should be important enough for them to go and investigate,” Chad said.

  Bowren grinned hungrily. “My specialty, sir.”

  “Don’t wait around for any company. Meet up with us after,” Chad said.

  They moved into position and then heard an explosion over the howling winds. Chad watched as Bowren sent more explosive charges inside the building, and a few seconds later those explosives detonated, causing massive destruction.

  “They had to have heard that,” Benton said.

  Vladek got the door open and the Spec Ops team went inside. Aurang had expected them to remain outside and circle around to the rendezvous point, but Chad wasn’t taking any chances. They had their own objective inside. He just hoped the schematics Aurang had given him were accurate. Otherwise, all the soldiers they'd lured away would come looking for them.

  “Sir, I see Krake soldiers heading to the area. We’re heading back to you,” Bowren said.

  They went down the corridor, and near the end was a cross section. Several Krake soldiers ran past, but the last few stopped. One of them gestured toward the Spec Ops team. Before they could raise an alarm, the CDF soldiers fired their weapons and stopped them.

  They ran past the dead Krake, heading away from where the others had gone. They had a target to reach. They headed farther into the building’s interior, navigating through open doors and taking out Krake along the way.

  There were multiple access rooms that linked to the core comms system, and the Spec Ops team wondered if Aurang would be able to detect when they accessed the system and whether he'd try to stop them. They entered the room and took out the Krake inside.

  There was a phalanx of consoles, but Vladek went to a smaller one off to the side. “I’m in, sir. I’ll need some time to gather what we need.”

  Access to this system and the data on it would give them valuable insight into how the Krake operated across the multiverse. Hopefully, it also contained references to the Krake home system where the overseers resided. If they could learn that location, they might be able to end this war before it actually began.

  “Sir, I can see what Aurang is doing. They’ve successfully uploaded their updates and . . .” Vladek said, pausing for a moment, “. . . authentication is complete. Scheduled uplink is about to initiate.”

  Chad had wanted to add a search for a reference to their home universe, but Sean had denied the request. The risk was too great because the Krake might be able to bring up Vladek’s session and trace everything he'd done. They didn’t need to point the Krake at New Earth by leaving a search history, despite assurances from Aurang that they could cover their tracks.

  “Data transferred and received,” Vladek said. A few moments later, he stepped away from the console. “We got it, sir.”

  “Good work. Let’s head to the waypoint,” Chad said.

  He checked the operations schedule on his internal heads-up display. They were right on schedule. Now they just had to find a way off the planet.

  22

  The Vigilant was approaching the equatorial line of the NEC. The Dutchman and the Babylon were both several thousand kilometers away on different approach vectors in the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet. The Vigilant’s target was the main monitoring station in low orbit on the other side of the planet, while the secondary and tertiary targets of the CDF destroyers were the Krake communication satellites that were always pointed at the space gate. According to Aurang, at least one of those satellites had a direct line to the gate, which was located on the other side of the moon.

  The best approach for reaching their targets undetected was to use a gravitational assist from the actual NEC. Sean had ordered their approach vector at a specific velocity so they could also orbit the planet for several revolutions without overly taxing their inertia dampeners.

  Sean sat in the commander's chair, monitoring their approach, while the crew on the bridge went about their tasks, completely focused. The best scanners in the universe couldn’t penetrate through a planet. Line of sight was still a major factor in space warfare. The Ovarrow who lived on this planet were not a spacefaring race, and according to Aurang, they hadn’t grown beyond an industrial age. The Krake wouldn’t tell them very much, other than that this planet was a simulation where a multitude of tests were being conducted. If the Krake were running simulations on an entire planet of Ovarrow, the number of tests could be impossibly large.

  So far, everything Aurang had told them about the defenses had been truthful.

  “Colonel, gamma burst activity has been detected, which matches the activity of a space gate,” Lieutenant Scott said.

  “That will be the scheduled check-in Aurang told us about,” Sean said.

  He checked their velocity and time to intercept the target. If they arrived too soon, the Krake would be aware of their presence and call for reinforcements. The key to this entire operation was to strike at preci
se times across all the teams in order to cripple the Krake's ability to respond. Talon-V squadrons were on their final approaches to the space gate, while Charlie team was performing its own orbital assist to cripple the Krake lunar base. Sean was quite familiar with the combat tactic of hitting the enemy where they believed they were safe, and the lack of Krake ships in this system seemed to indicate that the Krake hadn’t anticipated an attack here.

  “Forward mag cannons locked on target,” Lieutenant Scott said.

  “Ops, what’s the status of the space gate?” Sean asked.

  “Still generating gamma waves, sir,” Lieutenant Burrows replied.

  Once they fired their weapons, there was no going back. They were close enough that the velocity of the slug from the mag cannon would hit the monitoring station before their target had a chance to react. If they used midrange missiles, there was a chance the Krake would detect the attack.

  The forward mag cannons were built into the superstructure of the Vigilant. Sean had already given his authorization to fire, and Gabriel was programmed with the exact time to do so. At the same time, the Dutchman's and the Babylon’s single forward cannons would fire their armament as well.

  “Shots away,” Lieutenant Scott confirmed.

  Sean looked at Burrows and she shook her head. The space gate was still active. This was going to be close. Sean watched as the seconds ticked by.

  “Gamma burst has ceased,” Burrows said.

  “Target has been hit. No alerts on any of the known Krake communication channels,” Lieutenant Scott said.

  “The Dutchman and the Babylon each report successfully destroying their targets,” Specialist Sansky said.

  “Acknowledged. Good job, people,” Sean said. “Helm, adjust our heading to coordinates bravo.”

  “Adjusting course to coordinates bravo, sir,” Edwards said.

  Maneuvering thrusters became active, and the Vigilant’s heading began to change. They were soon flying over the southern polar region of the planet.

  “Sir, I’m detecting Krake attack drones. They’re hard astern of us,” Lieutenant Scott said.

  The plot on the main holoscreen began to populate with marks for the attack drones.

  “Where are they coming from?” Sean said.

  “Sir, they’re coming from the planet. No Krake warships have been detected,” Lieutenant Scott said.

  “Ready HADES Vs. I need a firing solution on the attack drones. Ops, alert the other ships. Tell them to find alternate orbital paths,” Sean said.

  His orders were confirmed.

  “Aurang betrayed us,” Russo said.

  “Maybe. Either he didn’t know or he didn’t tell us,” Sean replied. “Comms, open subspace comlinks to the other teams. Warn them that the Krake have other defenses in place.”

  HADES V missiles fired from the Vigilant, staggering their approaches to the oncoming swarm of attack drones. The lead missiles detonated, blinding the attack drones and temporarily disabling them, and then the second wave gouged their numbers. But more attack drones kept appearing on the scope. The Vigilant was too far away to take out the facility. They needed to get out of there.

  Sean did a quick calculation based on the number of HADES V missiles they had and the rate the Krake were replenishing their attack drones. This was a numbers game, and the numbers weren’t in favor of the Vigilant.

  “Colonel, I have a subspace comms from Captain Boseman,” Sansky said.

  “Put him through to me,” Sean replied. He could hear the distinct sound of weapons being fired in the background.

  “Colonel, Krake forces are arriving through an arch here in the southern complex. Aurang crashed our ship and we are unable to leave,” Boseman said.

  “Is Aurang with you?”

  “Negative, sir. We’re unable to reach the rendezvous point. We need extraction.”

  “Acknowledged. Deploying combat shuttles to your position. Send them your beacon,” Sean said.

  Sean studied the main holoscreen. Krake attack drones were flying toward them, and the HADES V missile defense screen could only buy them so much time. But he wasn’t going to leave those men behind. He had fifteen minutes to come up with a way to rescue the Spec Ops team on the ground and get them to their own space gate.

  23

  The firefight had been brief but intense, and Chad ordered his men to keep moving. There were two combat shuttles on the way, and he had sent them a waypoint for extraction. The video feed from the reconnaissance drone he had hovering near the arch showed Krake soldiers coming through. Reinforcements had arrived. Chad had lost four men so far, and he'd had their combat suits self-destruct what remained of them. They couldn’t leave any trace behind.

  “That bastard.” Benton scowled. “Looks like Aurang and his people found a way off this rock.”

  Aurang had avoided the Krake soldiers and made his way to one of the landing zones where he'd secured a ship. The Krake shuttlecraft looked to be powering up.

  “Captain, Krake comms chatter contains references to a report that has information about Trident Battle Group,” Vladek said.

  “Son of a—” Chad started to say and stopped. He gritted his teeth and shook his head. They had monitored Aurang closely, but somehow the Krake rebel had deceived them. He was playing both sides of this.

  “Captain, should we warn the Vigilant?” Vladek asked.

  Chad’s first instinct was to do just that. “Negative. The trap has been sprung. Brentworth, I need you to prepare the data we’ve gathered for a subspace comlink burst. Vladek, help him.”

  They were outside, sticking close to the buildings and using them for cover. The Nexstar combat suits assisted their movements with relatively low energy expenditure from the wearers. One way or another, they would get the data where it needed to go, even if they couldn’t make it off this planet.

  They had to move quickly, and the storm provided some cover, but the Krake had an idea of their position. Within minutes, they were on the outskirts of the small city.

  A comlink registered to his combat suit.

  “Captain Boseman, this is Lieutenant Franco. I'll be at the waypoint position in under a minute. We’re flying low and fast, so be ready,” she said.

  “We’ll be here,” Chad replied. The comlink closed, and he knew they wouldn’t hear the combat shuttles approaching in this storm.

  Suddenly, a bright flash from behind them lit up the sky. Then, a blue beam of light fired from the center of the city out toward them. It cut a swath right through the blizzard, illuminating the area above them. The beam then swept the area above them, and Chad watched helplessly as the two CDF combat shuttles exploded. As the Spec Ops platoon dove for cover, the remains of the shuttles descended over the snow-covered ground. After the beam of light stopped, Chad stood up. He scanned the area and saw a flaming wreck with the two combat shuttles raining down all around them.

  “Did anyone see where that came from?” Chad asked.

  “Looked like it came from the central building in city,” Benton said.

  Chad clenched his teeth and peered through the blizzard, trying to get a look at whatever the Krake had just fired at them. If they went back into the city, they'd have to face the Krake soldiers. They needed to find another way out.

  “Brentworth, I need a subspace comlink to the Vigilant, now,” Chad said. A few moments later, he had the link. “Colonel, both shuttles are down. The Krake have a defense weapon, and it targeted them. We didn’t know it was there. Uploading a data burst of the data we extracted from the Krake's systems. Can you confirm receipt?”

  “Yeah, we got it,” Sean said.

  Benton gestured toward the city and told him that the Krake soldiers were heading in their direction.

  “Captain, can you find another ship?”

  “Negative, Colonel. All ships are on the other side of the city with too many of the enemy. There’s no landing zone nearby. The approach is bad, and the extraction zone is too hot,” Chad said. He o
rdered his men to take cover and get ready to fight.

  “I’m sending another shuttle down to you,” Sean said.

  “It’s too hot. We can’t reach that weapon to take it out, and Krake soldiers are closing in on us. That data is why we came here. Take it and go,” Chad said.

  “That’s not how this works. Hold your position. That’s an order, Captain. Acknowledge.”

  Chad gritted his teeth. “Holding position. Copy that, sir.”

  24

  “Ops, get another combat shuttle ready. I’m not abandoning those men,” Sean said.

  “Sir, did Captain Boseman say what kind of weapon the Krake were using?” Russo asked.

  Sean glanced at his XO. “It's some kind of energy weapon. He did say it was a bright blue beam, which is probably like the Colossus cannon we use for city defenses back on New Earth. It’s perfect for atmospheric defense. Probably wouldn’t do anything to us up here, though. They didn’t have the exact coordinates for it.”

  “We can’t make a precision shot with the information we have, but we can create a firing solution for a bombardment run. It might give our shuttle and the Spec Ops team enough cover for an extraction,” Russo said.

  Sean frowned. That was a hell of a lot of guesswork, given the conditions down there. They could see the storm system. “We’ll risk hitting our own men.”

  Russo glanced at the main holoscreen and then looked back at Sean. “Colonel, I can do this. Let me give those men one last shot.”

  Jane Russo had been his tactical officer for years and he knew her capabilities. If she said she could do it, then she could do it.

  “Very well,” Sean said.

  Russo turned her attention to her personal holoscreen and got to work.

  “Helm, adjust speed to allow time for a bombardment run,” Sean said.

  “Colonel, slowing our velocity will allow the Krake attack drones to reach the ship. A successful evacuation of the ground forces to this ship is impossible,” Gabriel said.