“You all know the deal. I have no better idea on the plan of this ship than any of you. My Company is following this trail of bodies. The rest of you spread out and see what you can find. The white painted Morohtan warriors, they might be friendly. I stress might! Do not fire unless fired upon. Stay focused, kill any enemy targets you find, but remember the goal is Bolormaa. She is all that matters. Good luck.”
He looked out at the docking bay and realised the ship was more like a floating city than anything he had seen before. It dwarfed the Nakbe, a vessel that had always been jaw dropping to see and awe-inspiring to be aboard. He started moving with Jones close beside him. He held the hammer in his shield hand and his rifle at the ready. For ten minutes they made their way through magnificent rooms and corridors finding nothing but bodies. They couldn’t even hear any gunfire.
For every dead rebel there were at least ten of Bolormaa’s, and yet they looked near identical.
“They must be elite fighters, Zaya’s people,” said Jones.
Taylor nodded in agreement.
“I guess when you’ve had that many years to harbour resentment and plan for revenge, you make sure you’re ready to dish it out when the time comes.”
“You think Zaya has a good cause?”
“I do, but that doesn’t make him a good person. That remains to be seen. We cannot forget the atrocities that he will have committed as a pawn of Bolormaa.”
Jones could see he knew more than he was letting on. He grabbed Taylor’s arm and stopped him.
“Full discretion, I need to know what we are dealing with,” he insisted.
“Zaya was involved in the Aranui war.”
“Involved? How involved?”
Jones could see from the look on Taylor’s face that it was bad.
“I never said he was a good person,” insisted Taylor.
“So we are backing one genocidal maniac over another?”
“Zaya did what he did because of orders, Bolormaa’s orders.”
“That’s no excuse, and you know it, Mitch!”
“No, probably not, but we can’t always pick our friends. He might be just what we need.”
“A murderous lunatic who wants to kill his mother?”
“I didn’t say it was a perfect situation, but it is what it is. Where would we be right now if it wasn’t for Zaya?”
“Probably with the Pauri Tau in hand, for a start.”
“We both know it isn’t that simple. Bolormaa was coming for the spear, whether we like it or not.”
Jones groaned. He was less and less happy with the situation as Taylor disclosed each new piece of information. They heard the sound of footsteps around a corner and drew to a halt, raising their rifles to the ready. Seconds later, a warrior stumbled past, and they opened fire with several bursts that killed it before it even hit the ground. They went forward for a closer look. It had a gaping wound in its flank caused by a thrust from a large blade that had pierced its body right through.
“Zaya,” said Taylor.
“Have you ever thought that even if we can take Bolormaa down, we might have to face something just as bad in him?”
“The thought crossed my mind, but let’s deal with trouble as and when we find it.”
They came into a vast crossroads section to find bodies scattered all around just as before. In the middle of the room was the body of a six-legged armoured creature five times the size of any Morohtan warrior. Its body was shaking violently, but its head lay separated a few metres away where it had been cut clean off.
“What the hell is that disgusting thing?”
“Not something we have to worry about,” replied Taylor.
He knew it must have been Zaya. It was both comforting and worrying to know that the rebel Prince led from the front as he did. Just as before they followed the trail of bodies. Zaya was clearly sweeping through the ship like a hurricane, and there seemed no stopping him. Gunfire rang out at the back of the column, and Taylor turned back to for a view of what was happening, but all he could see were the flash of muzzles lighting up the roof above his Company.
“We can’t stop,” said Taylor.
Jones gritted his teeth, knowing that was true as he relayed orders.
“Fourth Platoon, hold your position and engage the enemy. The Company is moving on.”
They both hated having to split up anymore, but they couldn’t waste any time. Taylor led the way, and he was upping the pace all the time. It felt reckless, but they all knew what was at stake. They soon heard gunfire up ahead and slowed down a little as Taylor cautiously took a bend. As he did, he found himself facing a rear-guard of Zaya’s troops with their distinct white strips. He stepped out onto the open and lowered his weapon, holding up his empty hands.
“What are you doing?” Jones quickly tucked in at the corner with his rifle ready to fire, “They’ll kill you.”
Taylor ignored him as he went forward in plain view without any aggressive body language.
“We aren’t the enemy. We are here to help. We are here to end Bolormaa’s life.”
He could tell they had hesitated for a reason. Any other Morohtan warrior would have pulled the trigger upon seeing him without a moment’s thought.
“We want the same thing. Let us help,” he pleaded.
He could see the flash of gunfire behind them as they fought their way through Bolormaa’s lines. The nearest warrior pointed with his gun for Taylor to go the other way.
“That way,” it said.
Taylor nodded slowly.
“Good luck,” he yelled, as he gestured for his people to come with him.
Jones edged out slowly and cautiously. His rifle was lowered, but his finger remained next to the trigger and ready to deploy as fast as a gunslinger. They backed away as they took the next corridor along. Jones watched them with suspicion up until the last moment that he was finally out of line of sight.
“You see,” said Taylor, “We want the same thing.”
“For now, but how do you know they wouldn’t have just shot you?”
“I didn’t, but if we and Zaya’s people are gonna fight it out now, what hope do we have of beating Bolo?”
“That was your logic?” asked Jones in amazement, “You think these soldiers think that far ahead?”
“They’ve had hundreds of years to harbour this resentment and plan their revenge. I think they have thought much further ahead than any one of us have.”
Jones shrugged. It sounded possible, but Taylor was making big gambles. They carried on, surprised not to hear a single shot exchanged by the two sides as they passed one another. It gave Taylor hope for the future, but he couldn’t help but wonder if it was just a result of their current circumstances.
“Do you even know where you are going?”
Taylor looked back down at his pad.
“Kind of. They are on to something there, and we are skirting around to the far side of the fighting.”
Muzzle flashes lit up the room running parallel with them as they passed each doorway, but they did not stop.
“You know we could be running into the biggest trap, right now?”
“Yep, or our best chance of ending this war in one strike, Jones.”
They turned a bend, stopping in horror and shock as they saw a terrifying clash ahead of them. Far into the distance, two hundred metres ahead down a straight hallway, and into the room ahead, the most epic of duels was taking place. Zaya lashed out with strike after strike at Bolormaa herself.
“Is that her?” Jones asked quietly.
Taylor could barely even find his words.
“Ye…yes, it is.”
Bolormaa was parrying and striking with lightning speed with the staff that she had struck Taylor down with. The attacks came in thick and fast. Zaya’s cuts were being parried off until he struck her with his shield, but she came right back at him. They seemed matched as they laid on attacks with extreme ferocity.
“We can’t take that on,” sai
d Jones.
“Not alone, but with him,” said Taylor, pointing at Zaya, “Look at him. He might even pull this off himself.”
But as Taylor said it, Bolormaa nimbly leapt over one of Zaya’s thrusts and struck him on the top of the head. She kicked him to the torso so that he was launched back and tumbled out of view.
“Shit, no, come on!”
Taylor leapt forward into a run. The Colonel’s enthusiasm and courage spurred the rest on, and they didn’t hesitate to follow him. They covered the ground quickly, but as they reached the last forty yards, a hail of gunfire rang out at their flank where there was a spur off from the main hallway. One of the shots glanced off Taylor’s helmet. Jones grabbed hold of him and hauled him back into cover.
Two of their own were not so lucky, as they had been racing to catch up with the Colonel and took the full brunt of the salvo. One dropped down dead, and the other landed screaming in pain through multiple wounds. They watched in horror as he was shot another five times on the ground until he was dead.
“Bastards,” said Jones.
He held his muzzle around the corner and fired a burst before ducking back. Taylor was just fixated on Bolormaa, who was now looking right back at him. Zaya rushed back into view and attacked several times when a spear blade sprung out from the tip of Bolormaa’s staff. She ducked under his shield and drove it up into the Prince’s stomach.
With her other hand, she took hold of his sword hand and stopped it dead. Zaya seemed completely locked in her powerful grasp. She turned to look at Taylor as if taunting him.
“No, we can’t let him die,” said Taylor.
Bolormaa nodded at him, and the huge doorway began to descend. It was a vast blast door which they wouldn’t have a hope of breaching.
“Cover me!” Taylor yelled.
“No, Mitch, no!” Jones cried out.
But he didn’t have time to stop him. Jones fired around the corner as Taylor leapt out. As he got moving, he drew out a grenade and armed it, throwing it down the spur as he ran past. Antos and five others charged on after him in support. Three of them were cut down before they could cover the distance. Only Antos and Private Nile made it in support of Taylor as they sprinted towards the door. It was closing at quite a pace, and they had to give it their all to have any chance of making it through. Taylor threw his rifle away and gave it everything he had except the hammer, as did the others.
Jones looked out in horror as they made their final dash. The door was just a metre off the ground when they all went into a dive and rolled through. They tumbled in rather ungracefully as the vast barrier sealed shut behind them.
“Good luck, you crazy son of a bitch!” He then pulled out a grenade and launched it around the corner, firing another burst before the explosion rang out. He looked back to the others who looked a little lost.
“The Colonel is in there fighting for all of us, so let’s not let him down. There has to be another way in. Let’s push on and run over these bastards!”
They were nodding in agreement, despite the fact that they were terrified and uncertain. Jones activated his shield, and the others quickly followed suit.
“Let’s do this!”
* * *
Taylor rolled onto his feet to find he was empty handed. Bilgunn’s hammer had slipped from his grasp as he tumbled in and now lay between the three of them and the two Morohtans. Bolormaa still had Zaya pinned. She ripped the spear from his side and blood spurted out. He lifted his shield arm to protect him, but she thrust her spear into the centre of the boss on his arm, and it powered down instantly.
“You see, Taylor, not even my greatest warrior can defeat me, so what chance did you ever have?” she asked.
She drove Zaya down into a hunched position as she drew the spear back ready to thrust down into the top of his neck. Taylor didn’t doubt that it would finish him, but he couldn’t reach the hammer in time. Bolormaa wasn’t even looking at the humans now as she focused on her rebel son and prepared to finish him off.
Taylor drew out his Assegai and threw it with all his force. Bolormaa turned at the last moment, but it was too late, the blade caught her cheek and dug deep into her face. It glanced past and embedded in a wall far behind. It caused her to drop Zaya. She recoiled back and stumbled a few paces in shock.
Zaya quickly got back up, picked up his sword, and drew out a smaller dagger with his offhand. The three humans all activated their shields as Taylor picked up the hammer and stood off against Bolormaa.
“Bilgunn, you killed him?” she said bitterly.
“No, I did,” said Zaya.
Bolormaa hissed in disgust. “You betrayed me,” she declared.
“No, I was everything you ever asked me to be. I never refused an order. I only ever did want you wanted. You are the betrayer.”
It was clear she had no interest in his words, and so she turned to Taylor.
“Why would you want to die beside that? This is not your fight. Leave us.”
Taylor laughed, and that only angered her further.
“You made it my fight when you turned up causing all kinds of trouble. I was happily asleep on ice before then. No, you made this my fight. You brought this upon yourself, and you will pay the price for it.”
She shook her head.
“You think you can win here? You will die with this traitor, and for what?”
“You never would tell me, would you? You know we have been trying to figure it out all this time. Why it is you came back? What it is you want? I think I finally figured it out.”
She stood silently as she awaited his response.
“You’re just a sick, sadistic bitch who gets off on the pain and suffering of others. You’re the same as every other despotic king and queen that has tried to lord it over her people and others. Well, you know what, Bolo? That happened to my ancestors that founded my country, and guess what happened? They won.”
“Weak and pathetic Earthling, you know nothing,” she replied.
Taylor smiled as he could see he had riled her up.
“No, you know nothing. You know nothing of the strength of my people. We have overcome everything that was ever thrown at us, and you will be no different. For all your intelligence and strength, you are dumb and weak. You don’t have the support of your people. You have failed in life and will be remembered as the despicable creature you are.”
She let out an angry cry and rushed towards Taylor. He swung the hammer at her, but she nimbly cast it aside with the back of her spear, swinging the shaft over and smashing it down on his head. The speed and power knocked him down onto one knee, and she drew back the spear to thrust it into his face. But as she did, Zaya’s sword flashed in front of Taylor’s eyes and knocked it aside. He cut back at her. She parried that, too, and tried to strike back. Taylor swung his hammer around and smashed it into her back with all his power.
Flashes and sparks lit up on impact. She was thrown two metres and into a tumble. She then crashed into a solid counter and came to a standstill. For all her speed and power, their numbers was overwhelming her.
“What’s the matter? Not quite the god you tell everyone you are?” Taylor asked.
She got back up and looked disgusted by his words.
“No, I have seen your sort before. I thought you were something different, something special. But you are the same as the rest, and you will die and be buried in our history the same as them. Names long forgotten.”
She came forward once again and swung a strike at Zaya to force him back. She then kicked Taylor in the chest and swung the spear around with precision. The blade cut deep into Nile’s throat and opened it up. He gasped for air and tried to hold the wound, but he dropped down dead. Bolormaa turned to the others as though they should be impressed or intimidated.
Taylor wasn’t as confident as he made out, but he would do everything possible to not let her see that.
“You have all come here to die,” she stated.
“It’s just you and u
s now,” said Zaya.
She began to laugh. “A fleet of twenty ships are already on their way. None of you will make it out from here alive.”
“Wrong, they have already been diverted. No one is coming,” Zaya said.
That brought a smile to Taylor’s face, and he could tell Zaya had been planning this for a long time.
“No matter, not one of you can kill me.”
“But this can.”
Zaya dropped his dagger and drew out the spear. Bolormaa’s eyes were fixated on it, and it confirmed that she was every bit as terrified of it as Irala had told them.
“The one weapon in the galaxy that can kill you, and you’re too proud to destroy it. Hubris will be the end of you, just as it has been for so many before you,” said Taylor.
“You will not kill me. You will never be rid of me. I will make sure you suffer a slow and agonising death. It is only a pity that your pathetic kind live but a small amount of time,” she said before turning to Zaya. “But your suffering will not end until the end of time.”
She lashed forward towards Zaya. He only narrowly managed to parry off the lightning fast attack before the spear pivoted around and struck the side of his head. It knocked him aside. Taylor came forward with another strike, but Bolormaa had anticipated it and smashed the butt of the spear into his chest. It felt like a freight train hitting him as he was launched backwards. But in the chaos, Antos had got in close and drove his Assegai into the back of Bolormaa’s elbow joint. The blade managed to pierce far enough in the weak joint area that she let out a cry of pain. She lashed out and struck him with the back of her hand. It snapped his head so hard it almost broke his neck.
He fell down stunned, but as she tried to finish him off with her staff, Zaya once against intervened with a cut to her right arm. The blade sliced into her armour and again she cried in pain but pivoted around, thrusting her spear into Zaya’s lead arm. The sword fell from his grasp, but he quickly retaliated with a thrust from the Tamir. It was fitted on a short staff, and he used it more like Taylor used his Assegai. The tip was heading right for Bolormaa’s ribs when she reached out and grabbed him at the wrist. It stopped him dead in his tracks.
Battle Beyond Earth: Invasion Page 20