by Sarah Noffke
“Blackbeard, I’ve found our target,” he whispered.
Eddie landed the cloaked Q-Ship next to the building Lars had indicated, and he raised the tri-rifle before opening the hatch.
“Tell Jules I’m going in,” said Eddie to Pip.
There was a long moment of silence before a sigh came from overhead. “She said good luck, but that wasn’t what she meant,” said Pip.
Eddie chuckled. “What did she mean?”
“Don’t die,” said Pip morbidly.
“Tell her not to worry. I’m bringing the big guns, and soon we’ll have Lytes sitting across the table in the interrogation room spilling all his secrets.”
After another pause Pip responded, “Julianna says she’s not worried.”
“Oh, well, that’s good,” said Eddie.
“But Captain…” said Pip.
Eddie paused before disembarking. “Yes?”
“Just between you and me, she is.”
“It must mean she cares,” said Eddie.
“She says it’s because training your replacement would be a bitch,” said Pip.
“Tell her not to fret. I can be replaced easily,” said Eddie.
“Actually, you should know that General Reynolds picked you because of the incident in the Lorialis System. It wouldn’t be easy to find someone else who could have accomplished that,” said Pip.
“I didn’t do anything any other leader wouldn’t have done,” said Eddie, recalling the long-ago affair like it had been yesterday. It wasn’t hard to remember, since it was often a part of a reoccurring dream.
“Leaders are taught not to leave a man behind, but many do. They often say they are protecting the team, protecting the greater good. Few live up to that motto in battle, and most don’t go back to save soldiers considered doomed,” said Pip.
“I made a promise to those men that I would sooner die than leave them behind,” said Eddie through gritted teeth. Pip was getting bolder, and he could understand why Julianna didn’t always appreciate it.
“And you did almost die to save the two men,” said Pip.
“Numbers aren’t really important. A person is a person, and each means something to someone,” said Eddie.
“All I’m trying to say is that the General picked you for a reason, one not many other people can claim. You’re a man who does what he says he’ll do, even if you have to risk your life to keep your word. Julianna might joke, but she’d have trouble replacing you.”
“Yeah, I’d like to think you’re right,” said Eddie.
“It would take at least one, maybe two or three hours to find someone,” joked Pip.
“Ha. Ha. You’re priceless.” Eddie stepped out of the Q-Ship, and the bright sun made him squint slightly.
“Good luck, Captain Teach,” said Pip.
“Thanks, Pip.”
Soundlessly the hatch closed behind Eddie.
Chapter Twenty
Nexus, Tangki System
Julianna gazed at the lush green hills in the distance. Soon the Brotherhood would charge over the ridge to take the land behind her and its people.
Well, they’ll try, she thought.
She turned to Alleira, whose forehead glistened with sweat. The people of Sunex had worked hard for the last few hours, and this leader now held the remote switch Hatch had created.
“You know what to do, right?” asked Julianna.
With a fierce look in her eyes, Alleira nodded. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“It will work,” Julianna assured her.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, Warrior of the Stars, but even the wisest of our gods consider failure as an option.”
Julianna drew in a breath. She couldn’t tell Alleira that they were doomed if this strategy didn’t work. That the Brotherhood had enough numbers to take them all out. A commander didn’t lie, but they could choose which truths to tell. Courage in battle was more important than the weapons one held, and that proceeded from confidence.
Pointing to the clear blue sky, Julianna said, “If all else fails, look to the sky. That’s where you’ll find hope.”
Alleira nodded, her chiseled jaw strong. “Thank you, Commander Fregin. My people have never cared what happens out in space, but we’re grateful that there are protectors like you to help us.”
Julianna offered one last smile before turning for her Q-Ship.
Brotherhood Headquarters, Nexus, Tangki System
Eddie spotted Lars in the exact location he said he’d be. The Kezzin had a weighted look in his eyes from the kill. Even in battle, when death was expected, the experience stayed with the person, and this was one of Lars’ former people, a Brotherhood soldier. Funny that they called it “the Brotherhood” when nothing could be farther from the truth.
“You know the plan,” stated Eddie.
Lars nodded abruptly.
“Once you’ve completed your part, communicate the message to the Brotherhood,” said Eddie.
“Will do,” said Lars, his voice scratchy.
Eddie raised the heavy tri-rifle and a new focus spread through his mind as he led the way to the building they now knew was the Command Center. Gravel crunched under his boots, but in the middle of the base there was no one out. They were with the Stingrays, or readying to march forward. It didn’t matter, though. Wherever each Brotherhood soldier was, he’d get the message when the time came.
Eddie cast a tentative look over his shoulder at Lars, an expression that asked, “Are you ready to kick some ass?”
Lars rolled his shoulders back and this time nodded with true conviction.
Eddie thrust his foot into the door caving it in, but it didn't break.
“I was kind of expecting that they had locked and reinforced it. Actually, I was hoping they had.” He set the tri-rifle to demolition mode. “Stand back,” he said to Lars, who complied immediately.
Eddie pulled the trigger and a large blast shot horizontally from the gun, tearing the door off and destroying the wall around it. He didn’t wait for the smoke and dust to clear, since that was what the forces inside would do. Instead he bolted forward, turning the controls on the tri-rifle to the “spray and stun” option.
Over a dozen Brotherhood soldiers stood at the ready, many squinting from the dust. The Command Center was lined with monitors and computer stations, and in the middle stood Commander Lytes, his beady eyes narrowed on Eddie. Before he could spout a command Eddie fired the tri-rifle at the closest cluster of soldiers, and they dropped instantly, stunned. They appeared to be statues on the ground, stiff and motionless.
“Surrender now! We have the building surrounded,” lied Eddie. Lars took his position at the Captain’s side, rifle at the ready and aimed at the Commander.
He stood in front of a large console. On the screen was a digital map, and around it were several red buttons. “You’ve made a big mistake by coming here,” said Commander Lytes, his mouth puckering like he’d just eaten something sour.
“You made a mistake by thinking that you could take over this planet,” said Eddie as he scanned the room. All the soldiers except for Lytes still had their guns pointed at Eddie and Lars.
“It’s too late,” said Lytes. “This world is already ours.”
“We disagree, so lower your weapons,” said Eddie.
The Brotherhood soldiers stayed put, guns directed at the two. Eddie swiveled the tri-rifle to the set on the other side of the room and fired once, the laser stunning three of the soldiers. They fell to the ground, frozen.
“Drop your weapons,” commanded Eddie, his voice loud and clear.
The soldiers in the room all lowered their weapons to the ground, and then their hands went up.
“No, you morons! They’re bluffing,” cried Lytes.
“We’re not. This base has been surrounded by our forces. It’s too late for you,” said Eddie.
Lytes slammed his fist on the console in front of him. “That’s impossible!”
“Ground forces in pl
ace,” a voice crackled overhead. It was a field officer, ready to lead the troops into battle. “Marching on enemy in five.”
Eddie swallowed hard, but his expression was full of confidence. “I assure you it’s very possible,” said Eddie, swiveling the tri-rifle to cover the various males stationed around the room. “Now, you gentlemen are going to go with Lieutenant Malseen here, where you will meet our other forces. Don’t try anything, or he will be forced to shoot. Am I clear?”
“Stingrays in position,” said a different voice on the radio.
The males muttered their consent, filing into a line and heading for the exit. After Lars followed the last one out, Eddie turned his full attention to Commander Lytes. Everything had gone to plan so far, but it was going to go to shit unless the commander truly believed they were losing. Come on, Julianna. It’s your turn, Eddie said to himself.
Omega-line Q-Ship, Nexus, Tangki System
Julianna hovered the Q-Ship over the eastern hills. She could clearly see the Brotherhood’s base just off the coast, their forces in formation and marching inland right on schedule. The Stingrays lifted off the ground one after the other.
Julianna’s pulse sped up as the Brotherhood started their attack.
To the west, the people of Sunex were gathered in their village. Alleira would be on the front line with the switch-box in her hands, and her people had been instructed to retreat if the Brotherhood made it down the hill. There were things worth dying for, but not today. These people needed to resist, but they shouldn’t have to make the ultimate sacrifice—not when they were fighting an army of slaves. Commander Lytes and Felix Castile were the ones who needed to pay for these injustices.
“Strong Arm to Ghost Squadron. Hold formation. Brotherhood ground forces are on the move. Air forces are circling above,” said Julianna over the comm to her team.
Her ship was cloaked, allowing her a closer position than the Black Eagles, which were stationed just high enough in the atmosphere to be out of sight. It was crucial that the Brotherhood not know there were outside forces aiding the Sunex people. That would ensure their guard was down, and thus the first attack would be even more startling. The Brotherhood thought they were marching on a defenseless and peaceful people who made pottery and tapestries rather than bombs. The greater their surprise, the stronger the message to Commander Lytes.
Your blood pressure is rising, said Pip in Julianna’s head.
Shocking, she replied.
Aerial footage shows Lieutenant Malseen leading six Brotherhood soldiers from a building I would guess is the Command Center.
Okay, right on schedule. Now we just need to offer Teach a confidence boost.
Julianna watched as the long row of Brotherhood soldiers hiked up the hill, carrying their weapons at the ready. They were quickly approaching the first line of mines they’d set up, and when they were fifteen feet from the barrier Julianna held her breath.
Do it, Alleira, she thought to herself.
Nothing happened. The Brotherhood advanced, crossed the top of the ridge, and began making their descent.
Now! Come on, Alleira!
Julianna had placed the controls in the hands of the leader of the Sunex people, which had seemed like the right thing to do. This was her land to defend, after all.
The Brotherhood forces moved as one, now only a few feet from the first line of defense. If they got there first, the ruse might be compromised.
Now! Now! Now! Do it! thought Julianna.
An explosion bloomed from the ground, sending large plumes of gray smoke into the air. The Brotherhood’s formation broke, the males halting before backing up. Some ran forward, but there was another explosion. And another. And another.
“Yes! The first mock mines have detonated,” said Julianna over the comm.
A chorus of cheers answered her.
“That’s great, Strong Arm,” came a pilot’s voice.
Lone Wolf, Julianna thought, instantly placing one of the newest recruits.
The Brotherhood soldiers had scattered now, and many of them were falling back. Some had been scared enough to run forward, afraid the blast was behind them as well. That was a benefit of setting up the mines on the mountain—it was hard to see where the explosions were coming from.
Another round of explosions rocked the area between the Brotherhood and the Sunex people—and from the sky the explosions appeared lethal, so from the ground they were probably terrifying. However, fireworks could also look quite intimidating if one didn’t know they were meant for mostly show and harmless from a distance. That had been the plan—to make it look as though the Brotherhood were under fire by treacherous bombs when in fact the bombs were all blanks, meant to scare and cause a retreat.
Julianna pressed her lips together. So far, so good.
Brotherhood Command Center, Nexus, Tangki System
“Sir, we’re under heavy fire here!” a voice called over the radio.
Commander Lytes’ eyes fell on the radio, his expression confused.
“There are bombs everywhere, and many soldiers are down,” came the voice again.
“I told you that we had you surrounded. You’ve lost this war, Commander,” said Eddie, hiking up the tri-rifle in his hands.
Commander Lytes’ hand twitched by his side and he tried to reach for the radio, but a single shake of Eddie’s head stopped him.
“You will send a message over that radio in just a minute, but you’re going to say exactly what I tell you to,” said Eddie.
“I don’t have to do a damn thing you tell me,” snarled Commander Lytes.
Eddie nodded at the tri-rifle and then at the many soldiers still on the ground. “I’m afraid you do. Now, either do everything I say and your soldiers will watch you walk out of here…or you can disobey and they will watch you be dragged out. The one thing that is certain is that your people will see you leave here. The only way to free the Brotherhood is if they know you’re gone.”
The commander’s sharp teeth were bared as he hissed at Eddie, “I do not take orders from you. I’m in charge here!”
“The perimeter is completely blocked. There’s no way in or out from on the ground,” said a voice over the radio.
“It appears you’re not in charge anymore,” said Eddie, a satisfied grin on his face.
“No response from Commander Lytes,” said a different voice over the radio.
Eddie and Lytes eyed the radio, both eager to hear what would come across it next.
“Sending in Stingrays now. Tell the ground forces to retreat,” said a new voice on the wire.
Lars followed the six Brotherhood soldiers back to the main area where they’d lined up before. It was fairly empty now, almost all of the forces having been sent into the field and the Stingrays into the air.
The males who remained on the field looked up, questions and bewilderment on their faces at the sight of Brotherhood soldiers with their hands raised.
Lars surprised himself when his voice shot from his mouth. “Ghost Squadron has the base surrounded. You will not be harmed, but you must stand down. Commander Lytes has been taken into custody. This fight is over.”
There was a great rustling from the soldiers surrounding the area, and sweat trickled into Lars’ eyes. There was only one of him and dozens of them, but Eddie’s earlier words from their brief private moment came back to him, seeming extra-important now: “This is a show of intimidation, that is all. The person who says he has the biggest stick will win, whether he actually has it or not.”
Lars aimed his gun at the row of soldiers in front of him. “All of you will be freed, but you must first surrender. Ghost Squadron doesn’t want to hurt you.”
“How do we know you’ve taken over our base?” asked one of the six males who had been led from the Command Center.
That was an excellent question, thought Lars, looking at the sky.
Omega-line Q-Ship, Nexus, Tangki System
Mock bombs exploded and the dust got close
r to the border of Sunex as some of the Brotherhood soldiers attempted to move around the explosions. Most had retreated, but many were still trying to snake themselves through, fighting for a hold.
A neat formation of Stingray ships darted down from their holding position.
“Party time!” said Julianna. “Ghost Squadron, we have approaching enemy ships. Get them to follow you out to sea. I don’t want any ships going down over land. I made a promise to the leader, Alleira.”
“You got it, Commander,” said several voices over the comm.
“Lone Wolf and Escrima, I want you two down at the base to provide cover for Carnivore. Something tells me he’s going to need it,” said Julianna, holding her position in the sky. She would drop into battle if needed, but right now she had to watch the action and make the calls. That was the best thing, since Eddie was on the ground going after Commander Lytes.
Julianna watched as the Black Eagles swooped down and barreled toward the approaching Stingrays. The enemy ships shot at her pilots, but all of them missed the fast moving vehicles. Her crew teased the Stingrays, getting their attention— which was exactly what they wanted. The squadron flew over their heads and toward the sea to get the Brotherhood craft to follow them. With no ships flying this way the forces on the ground were defenseless, harassed by bomb after bomb. However, soon someone would realize that the bombs were fake, and then the people of Sunex would be in real trouble.
Julianna watched nervously, her hands tight on the controls of the Q-Ship. If it came to real trouble, she’d aid Alleira. It would involve destroying the land, but desperate times called for firepower action.
Brotherhood Base, Nexus, Tangki System
Two Black Eagles dropped and hovered at Lars’ back. He pivoted his head just enough to make out their forms.
Right on time, he thought, and with not a moment to spare.
The males he held at gunpoint were growing anxious, many with shifty looks in their eyes. Now all of them straightened, many raising their hands to the sky in surrender. It was hard not to comply when one stared at the cannons tacked to the hovering Black Eagles.