ROYAL LINE (War In The Void Book 3)

by Anthony Thackston

* * *

  With a swift kick, Haddron bowled a Ka’traxis Brood warrior into the oncoming path of another. The speed of the kick sent such a force into its recipient that it knocked both Catters to the floor. A loud hiss came from Haddron’s rear and he teleported without even looking back. The approaching Catter stopped, confused by the vanishing act. It had no time to prepare for the next assault.

  Haddron dropped from above, bringing both guns crashing into the Catter’s skull.

  The next challenge was more than the Nordic was ready for. Though he was surprised it had taken this long to finally happen. The first two shots missed through no fault of his own. Haddron spun around to see several Catter weapons bearing down on him. He didn’t wait for them to fire before he dashed straight for his assailants, teleporting just as he reached them and reappearing at their backs. He used both guns to trip the Catters and before either of them could hit the floor, he slammed the guns into their faces. There was no toying with them or making them feel slow, painful deaths. Haddron Lariscthyus had no interest in slow executions. He considered them cruel and much preferred to dispatch his enemies quickly and efficiently.

  When his latest targets finally hit the ground, more enemy warriors rushed into the middle of the cargo bay. Each of them had weapons drawn, aiming right for the Nordic. He weighed his options. There was a chance he could dodge their shots. But if even one of them got through, he would be ripped to pieces. But just standing there might have the same effect. He dug his heels in, ready to spring into action when he suddenly realized the exterior attack had ceased.

  “Well done, Captain,” he whispered.

  The remaining Catters all hissed at him and shouted orders in their language. Haddron didn’t understand but figured it had something to do with surrender.

  The Nordic dropped both guns and went for his teleporter. The move made the Catters shout even louder.

  Haddron pressed the lens just as a stream of ammunition blasted away at the bright light.

  When he appeared, it was on the bridge of the vessel. There were only ten Ka’traxis Brood warriors on board. They all stopped their duties, taking note of the sudden intruder.

  Haddron recognized which was the ship’s Captain based on its position within the room. He looked around at the other Catters as they slowly moved from their seats, making their way toward him. None of them drew their weapons. Not in this space. None of them wanted to put a hole in any of the sensitive instruments.

  The Captain yelled something, pointing at Haddron.

  The Nordic man smiled as four of the Catters rushed him.

  One was already flat on its back before the other three could get anywhere near Haddron. It was quickly replaced by another while those still standing moved in on the single Nordic attacker.

  Haddron blocked a strong punch that nearly knocked him to the ground. It had been a long time since he had been stricken by a Ka’traxis Brood. He’d almost forgotten how hard they could hit. But the Nordic recovered and redoubled his efforts to keep that from happening again.

  He leapt into the air, kicking out his foot and cracking the nose of the nearest enemy. He didn’t let up with that. As he hit the ground, Haddron immediately spun around to strike the next alien in the solar plexus with his open palm. That Catter doubled over where Haddron’s knee met its head.

  The next attacker barreled, full force, toward the Nordic. Haddron easily dodged being tackled to the ground. He didn’t even have to rely on his speed to avoid being crushed. He did, however, rely on it to deliver a spinning axe kick to the back of the attacker’s skull, dropping it to the floor.

  There were six left. Five surrounding him and the Captain still at its seat. Haddron noticed the Captain picking up a communications device. “That won’t do.”

  Before the lead Catter could send out any sort of call, Haddron teleported to the head rest of the Captain’s chair. The Catter hissed at him but Haddron’s foot silenced it quickly.

  The last five were dispatched in similar ways. None of them could keep up with his speed and none of them were lucky enough to get in any hits worth taking advantage of.

  Finally, Haddron stood in the middle of the bridge, surveying the remnants of his battle. Each Catter was dead. All were swift deaths as he had intended.

  The voice of another Ka’traxis Brood shouted through the radio. Haddron knew it wouldn’t be long before more of them came to the bridge. He rushed to the door and scanned the control panel. His knowledge of the written Ka’traxis Brood language was never extensive. And after his years in prison, he knew even less of it. He stared at the words on the panel, hoping for some spark of memory but none came. With no other recourse, he tightened his fist till the skin on his knuckles pulled tight. Then he plunged his fist through the door control panel.

  The sparks from the panel were assured but it was the sparks from the door that gave him confidence. Just to be sure, Haddron tried to pull the doors apart to open them but they didn’t budge.

  A knocking on the window of the bridge grabbed his attention and Haddron turned around to see James Irons on the outside. Haddron waved him to enter and the telelport flash that started on the outside ended on the bridge.

  Irons turned the dial, collapsing the suit. He looked around, impressed, at Haddron’s handy work.

  “Save the accolades,” Haddron said. “I believe we have figured out how to get the rest of our people onto that planetoid.”

  “If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, we’d best get on the horn and let them know what we’re coming in. Cuz the minute they see this thing, I guarantee Hill is gonna light us up.”

  Thirteen

  Who’s Going?

  The tension in the air was palpable on the bridge of the Slagschi. The crew of the USS Lucky Liberty stared at Jammin and Naura, distrustfully while Jammin and Naura stared back, leery of being outnumbered. Only Sitasha stood between both sides, hopeful that words of reason would be effective should someone attack.

  “So what happens if they don’t come back?” Durham broke the silence.

  “Erra’s an ally,” Syracuse said. “We got a duty to help them.”

  “Smart answer.” Jammin rubbed at his jaw where Commander Hill had hit him earlier. “If you had said we go back to Earth—”

  “We don’t have time for you two to see who hits hardest again,” Lindsay interrupted. She shrank back immediately, knowing she’d crossed a line. “Sorry, Commander.”

  “No need, Private. We’re in a tight spot. Tempers are liable to spark up. Xuyen, try hailing them, again.”

  Hannah stepped to her console and activated the communications receiver. “Captain Irons, this is Specialist Xuyen. Do you copy? Repeat. This is Hannah Xuyen from USS Lucky Liberty. Captain Irons, do you copy?” A faint static was all the reply she received. She turned back to Syracuse. “It’s just static sir.”

  “Probably got blown up,” Jammin said.

  “You don’t know that!” Hannah blurted out.

  “They took a scout ship with limited weapons capability and burned out thrusters within shooting distance of a planet surrounded by Ka’traxis Brood warships,” Jammin fumed. “Did any of you think that was going to end well?”

  Suddenly, Hannah’s console lit up with red and blue lights, all flashing at her. She tapped out a command and a three-dimensional holographic image of the space outside the ship appeared above them.

  Jammin didn’t stare at the display for long before he rushed to the front window of the bridge. “That’s a wormhole!”

  All aboard the Slagschip had seen enough Catter tanks to know what they looked like from front to back. The nose of the tank pierced the dark of the wormhole, entering the Slagschip’s space.

  “Battle stations, everyone!” Syracuse ran for the helm and took the wheel. “I want that thing ripped apart before it’s even halfway through!”

  “Belay that!” Jammin shouted.

  “You overriding me?”

  “There’s something else co
ming through.”

  Durham peered through the window. A small streak broke off from the side of the tank as the rest of its bulk passed through the wormhole. “That’s not a ship. What is—”

  “Gevecht Bepantsering,” Sitasha said.

  “It’s the Captain!” Lindsay dashed to the window as the wormhole closed and the tank eased to a stop.

  The first flash appeared at the bridge door. Everyone spun around, expecting to see Captain Irons. Instead Naura was relieved to find Haddron already moving toward the helm. Jammin scoffed at site of their leader.

  The next flash appeared. This time it was Irons who teleported near the bridge door. He immediately collapsed the battle armor as he approached the helm.

  “Your con, sir.” Syracuse relinquished the wheel.

  “Here’s the situation, kiddos,” Irons started. “The Catters got Erra surrounded. Worse, we still don’t know what that planetoid is really for. It ain’t a weapon, exactly, but I can tell you this, it’s heavily armed. Like Hannah said, half of it is artificial, the other half is forest. So here’s the plan.”

  Jammin stepped forward. “I want to know who put you in charge.”

  “Jammin, cease this—”

  “Did he challenge you and win, Haddron?” Jammin went on. “Or are you just cowing to humans? You think the rest of use are just going to follow along?”

  “Look around you, son,” Irons said. “The odds ain’t exactly in your favor.”

  Durham approached the wheel. “What’s the plan, Boss?”

  “We’re taking that thing.” Irons pointed at the Catter tank on the display. “Parking it and taking out whatever this new weapon is supposed to be.”

  “So, same old, same old. Well, that’s good. I thought we were gonna do something new and reckless.”

  Syracuse cleared his throat to silence Durham. “It’s a perfect camouflage.”

  Irons turned to Haddron. “It ain’t without its problems.”

  “The threat of the destroyer has been neutralized as have a few Ka’traxis in the cargo hold. But destroyers have large crews. There are many Ka’traxis left aboard—”

  “So we’re all just going to hop on that thing and fly it with a bunch of Ka’traxis Brood warriors still on board?” Jammin asked. He laughed at the notion. It was the worst idea he’d ever heard. “And what’s to stop them from getting on the bridge and killing the lot of us?”

  “The door has been permanently deactivated,” Haddron said in a calm manner.

  “Until they shoot it down,” Durham said. “For once, I’m siding with this guy.” He gestured toward Jammin. “We’ll all be sitting in a giant steel coffin.”

  “We ain’t all going,” Irons said.

  The words hit his crew especially hard. They’d played this strategy one too many times and every time, something went wrong.

  “I know what you’re all thinkin’,” Irons continued. “But this one’s gonna need some stealth and much as I hate to admit it, skills Earth Fleet just don’t have.”

  “It’s a safe bet who the first two are.” Syracuse gestured to Irons and Haddron. He liked the notion least of all and he’d yet to hear the whole plan.

  “That one’s going, too.” Irons flicked hit thumb toward Jammin. “Gonna need Hannah and Durham on this one as well.”

  “That’s a smart move,” Syracuse said, hopeful he was part of the detail.

  “Sorry, Hill. You and Brooks are benched on this one. Same goes for Sitasha and you.” He pointed at Naura.

  “But I—”

  “You know the Slagschip better than most,” Haddron interrupted Naura’s protest. “The Ka’traxis Brood want this vessel. Someone must stay behind to safeguard that from happening. The rest of you are proficient in combat, should an invading party appear.”

  “At this point, we’re far enough away, I doubt there’s much to worry about,” Irons said.

  “Except for boredom.”

  “Brooks!” Syracuse barked.

  Lindsay stood at attention “Sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.”

  “Good soldier,” Irons said.

  “Request permission to join, sir,” Lou Trevern said.

  “Negative. In case any boarding parties show up, this ship is gonna need your training.”

  Lou’s head dropped.

  “Xuyen, on me,” Irons ordered.

  The tech specialist did as she was ordered and Irons placed a hand on her shoulder. Durham put two and two together and approached Jammin.

  “What?” Jammin sneered.

  “I don’t like it any more than you so—”

  Haddron placed his own hand on Durham’s shoulder. “I will transport you.”

  “Why can’t I just use hers?” Durham pointed at Naura.

  “Don’t make me regret bringing you along,” Irons warned.

  “Better arm up, Captain,” Syracuse suggested. “Private, you and Haddron go to the armory, first.”

  “Meet us on the tank when you load up,” Irons added.

  “Does he get a gun, too?” Durham motioned toward Jammin.

  Irons answered the question with a menacing glare.

  “Yes, sir. Just thought there might be—” The teleport flash cut Durham off.

  “We’ll hold down the fort, sir.” Lindsay saluted.

  Irons nodded and he and Hannah disappeared in a flash, leaving three humans with two Nordics.

  Syracuse narrowed his eyes at Naura. “Probably for the best they left us behind.”

  The Nordic woman shifted uncomfortably where she stood.

  “Commander?” Lindsay asked, unsure of Syracuse’s meaning.

  The XO of the Lucky Liberty started slowly toward Naura, forcing her backwards until she nearly stumbled down the stairs to the lower level consoles. Lindsay could see the fear in the woman’s eyes. Whatever it was the Commander had locked onto, it was evident he was determined to see it through.

  “Something’s been bugging me for a while, now.“ Syracuse stepped down. “You’ve been second guessing Haddron’s decisions. I wanna know why.”

  “I would never—”

  “That’s what I figured, at first. But after what little Sitasha told us about you and after our little visit in the hospital, I’m starting to wonder if you aren’t working an angle.”

  Naura’s eyes darted to Sitasha, the one person she thought she might be able to trust. No answer came from her fellow Nordic.

  “Oh, now you got nothing to say. That’s alright. I know a few ways to make you talk.” Syracuse continued his advance on the Nordic woman.

  “I would never betray Haddron. But this false truce cannot go on!”

  “False?” Lindsay asked.

  Before any further explanation could be given, Naura pressed the lens on her teleporter and vanished.

  “I knew it!” Syracuse turned and ran for Hannah’s console.

  “Commander, what’s going on?” Lindsay asked.

  “That one’s got something up her sleeve. We gotta warn the Captain.” He stopped at the console and glanced down at it. The whole thing looked foreign to him. “How do I use this?”

  Lindsay stepped beside him and glanced at the station. Very little of it was familiar to her. Hannah normally had her center calibrated and modified to suit her needs. Now with the two vessels integrated, not only did they have to try and figure out Hannah’s system but they had to wade through the changes the integration process had made.

  “Private?” Syracuse asked, hoping for an answer.

  Lindsay shook her head. She had no solution.

  Syracuse turned to Sitasha.

  “If it were Haddron’s ship, I could help. But I am unfamiliar with Earth Fleet systems. I am sorry.”

  Syracuse dropped into the chair, a feeling of defeat washed over him. “So they’re alone and we got no way to reach them.”

  Fourteen

  Enemy Within

  Weapons of war all looked similar to those used to dealing with them. No matter the language
or the technology, a gun usually looked like a gun. The bridge of the Catter tank was much like the Lucky Liberty’s. A Captain’s seat and control consoles for the crew. There was no window to let them see out of it. And there was no maritime wheel. There were more control consoles in the tank but those were about the only differences. No one took much time to survey their surroundings on the enemy ship, not even Hannah who would have typically wanted to take the time to study the Ka’traxis Brood technology. They had a mission to continue and sightseeing wasn’t a part of it.

  Private Durham held out an automatic rifle to Captain Irons. Irons shook his head and patted the vest.

  “Got everything I need, right here.”

  Durham walked the rifle to Hannah who looked up at him in confusion.

  “That model’s too heavy.” She pulled the Ice gun out of his holster and holstered it in her own before going back to working on the Catter tank’s navigation system.

  “I’ll take it,” Jammin said.

  Durham raised an eyebrow. “Boss?”

  “I don’t like it either but we’re gonna need everyone armed when we get down there.”

  “I would prefer something more powerful than a side arm.” Haddron looked over the Ice gun in his hand. “Explain how this gives us an advantage.”

  “I told you. It’s got unlimited ammo. It just takes time to charge.” Durham strapped his own rifle around his shoulder.

  “Xuyen,” Irons said. “You figure this thing out, yet?”

  “Still working on it, sir. The basic scheme makes sense. I just can’t read the text.”

  “Up is up and left is left,” Jammin mocked. “Directions for the Ka’traxis Brood are the same as your own. Direction is a universal language.”

  “Mathematics are a universal language,” Hannah corrected him.

  “Can we argue on the playground later?” Durham asked, clutching his rifle. “Do the Catters know we’re here?”

  Haddron’s upper lip curled. He was annoyed at the Private’s lack of deductive skills. “Of course they do. We attacked them.”

  “Yeah. And they’ll probably try and bust down that door any minute now,” Irons said. “So the sooner we get this boat moving, the better.”