* * *
Durham stomped his boots on the ground, ensuring there were no more steps and no more ravines. He looked left then right. It was the same in either direction, dark. The reflected light from Taygetta made it so things weren’t pitch black but anything any more than a few feet away was completely obscured by dark.
“This way,” the Night Hunter said.
A rushing noise swooped through the air, growing louder.
“Captain?” Hannah asked.
“Scout ships?” Jammin added.
Everyone looked up to see the search lights of two Catter LAVs scouring the area. Their low level thrust kept them moving quickly but not so fast that details of the ship went unnoticed.
“Everyone get ready to run,” Irons warned.
The Night Hunter translated.
“I do not think even their search lights will reach us down here.” Haddron’s voice was completely serious.
Hannah looked down at the ground and could not see any better than before. “He’s right. Their range is too limited.”
“Finally something goes our way,” Durham said, a small amount of his old self coming back. It was a relief to both Irons and Hannah. They needed a little levity after their last battle. Especially now that they were heading into what they could only assume was going to be more of the same. This time with even more fighting.
No one moved until the LAVs finally passed out of sight down the ravine.
“We’re gonna need a place for these folks to hide when we get back topside,” Irons said.
“We should have left them in the cave,” Jammin replied.
“That would have been a death sentence for them,” Durham said.
“Well, it’s gonna be a death sentence for us at the rate we’re moving.”
“We will settle the matter when we are back topside,” Haddron told them both, silencing their debate.
The climb back up the other side of the ravine was less perilous but harder due to the wounded and their difficulty with the high climb. Haddron teleported ahead to make sure the top was free of enemy attackers. When he reappeared, it was with one hand on the shoulder of a slave before he transported them to the top. Irons followed suit while Jammin and the Night Hunter bookended the entire group as a defensive measure.
The climb up was moving much faster than the way down.
Durham finally stepped up to the surface and dropped to his knees. His legs were sore from carrying one of the slaves while climbing the stairs.
They all took in their dark surroundings. It wasn’t that long ago that the Nordics and the humans were in this very spot, backed against a long drop and a dangerous set of jaws.
Jammin turned to Irons. “Anything we need to be worried about?”
The Captain scanned the immediate area. No life forms were detected. Just a hot spot in the distance. “Negative,” Irons said. “Let’s get moving.”
Just as before, the slaves stayed in the middle where they would be safest from anything attacking from the front or the rear. This time, Irons took point. No one knew just how well the Night Hunter could see in the dark. He walked alongside the others as if he had scanners of his own.
“Stop,” Irons said. He turned to the Night Hunter. “This is as far as your people go. Find a place to hide.”
“I help you.”
“No. You’ve helped enough. They need someone to watch over them. We can handle what’s next.”
“His assistance may prove valuable, Captain,” Haddron said.
Irons looked at those who could fight and those who couldn’t. “Maybe. But we can’t take the chance at leaving the others alone.”
The Night Hunter stared at Irons then the others. The Captain was right. His people were in no shape to be left without defense no matter how well they hid.
“Besides, someone’s gotta keep fighting if we don’t get through this.”
The Night Hunter nodded and gathered his people to lead them deep into the woods, away from the fighters.
Irons said. “Ok. We move out.”
Irons and Haddron sped ahead while the others jogged behind them.
The soft ground started giving way to a harder surface as the dark faded into light from the star. It was still dusk light but now, at least, everyone could see.
The trees were less dense, leaving open spaces on the ground and making long shadows along the rest of the foliage. Durham, Hannah and Jammin slowed down when they caught sight of the other two. They walked the rest of the way, Hannah taking some interest in the inorganic terraforming. Any other time she would have been ecstatic about such a sight but here, in unfamiliar territory, with Catter patrols and a larger planet with even more enemies, it was hard to enjoy such technological curiosities.
All five of them stood on the metal ground, staring out at artificial structures and weapons’ platforms. They weren’t yet in the thick of it and already things were looking more challenging than any of them cared to admit.
“We have one gun between us.” Durham pointed at Irons’s arm. “What are we doing about weapons?”
Haddron glanced around the area and set his sights on a large, sturdy branch, fallen during the change in environment. He made his way to it and swiftly chopped his hand through the base of a smaller branch, grown out of the larger. He grimaced as his hand went through the sturdy wood. It wasn’t from difficulty. His pain came from exhaustion. But the sacrifice was worth it as he was now armed with a crude but decent sized staff.
“I guess that’s as good as it gets,” Durham said, finding his own stick on the ground. He swung it against a tree to test its efficacy. It didn’t break. “We keep making good enough good enough.”
“It’s worked out for this long,” Irons said.
“I can’t wait to be in a ship, again,” Hannah said.
“You and me both, Specialist,” Irons told her.
“As soon as I get my hands on a Ka’traxis Brood knife, I’m tossing this stick,” Jammin said, pounding the branch in his open palm.
“Aren’t we all.” Durham said as the five of them stood alongside each other, nervous but ready for the start to finally ending the war. One way or the other.
Twenty-Three
Earth Matters
Sirens and lights flashed across exterior building walls and the Earth Fleet dock. Wartech security teams rushed out of buildings to meet headfirst with police and SWAT members wearing riot gear. The private force and the public force traded bullets with each other, ducking behind walls and vehicles to avoid being shot.
An armored police Humvee screamed toward the Star Predator. Its tires left streaks on the asphalt as it skidded to a stop. Four police officers jumped out of the vehicle. None of them bothered to close the doors and they rushed to the gangplank of the Admiral’s downed ship. They were met by no interference and no one to stop them from their goal. It was easy for them to make their way to the bridge of the battle cruiser. Not surprising considering how many police officers were Earth Fleet soldiers during the war.
The interior of the ship was a mess after the attack from Haddron left its stern section underwater. Supplies were strewn about the corridors while crates and even a few ship parts lay as obstacles in the way of the officers. But military training along with what they’d learned in the police force made those obstacles of little hindrance.
Finally they entered the bridge. Officer McCallum ran straight to the Admiral’s chair and began entering commands into the console. Despite the Star Predator being both a military and Wartech designed vessel, McCallum seemed to instinctively know its operations.
Outside of the Star Predator the USS Drastic Nova lowered itself fifteen feet above the dock where its anti-gravity tech locked it in place. Its cargo bay doors slid open, revealing Captain Roy Allen at the mouth of the ship. He stood still, briefly watching the fighting below.
“How did it get this bad so fast?” He grabbed a nearby rope and tied it to a floor tie-down. Then tossed the other end out of
the ship before radioing to his crew. “Keep it here till I get back.” He didn’t bother waiting for an answer before taking the rope and dropping out of the ship.
Roy slid down behind the police, hoping no one noticed. Though it would be difficult not to notice the large Earth Fleet cruiser hanging above the fighting. As he’d hoped, the police were too busy fighting the Wartech security forces to focus their efforts on him.
Roy dropped below the police cars and drew his pistol. He ran for the Star Predator, taking long strides up her twisted gangplank and onto the upper deck. He took one last look at the scene on the dock. Both sides were trained well, neither getting a major edge over the other. He snarled at the idea that Earth was fighting against itself. It was made even worse now that there had been no new attacks by Haddron. The whole thing had become its own self-sustaining machine. One he had no clue how to stop. Not without both sides dealing in more losses than anyone wanted.
He had to let Wartech handle it and hope they were in the mood to take prisoners. Roy dashed to the door and pulled it wide open. His gun went in first before he stepped inside. There was no opposition. Only the chaotic mess caused by the ship’s tilt.
He got less than five feet in before he heard the sudden sound of engines warming up.
“Bad decision," Roy growled.
He raced for the bridge as fast as he could, leaping over debris and other structures in his path.
The Captain of the Drastic Nova slowed down just at the door to the bridge. He stepped as quietly as he could, careful not to alert the officers on board. Though fully confident in his own ability, the last thing he wanted to do was get into a firefight by himself.
He eased the door open as quietly as he could, gun aimed forward. He made a note of the three armed officers standing at the crew consoles while the fourth stood at the Captain’s seat, trying to start the ship.
The sound of water bubbling up from behind him was unmistakable. Even above it and through the walls of the ship, the sound of churning water was loud. Even more so combined with the sound of the ship’s engines trying to turn over.
Roy pointed his gun directly at McCallum. “All thrusters are underwater."
The police officers all spun around, weapons ready to fire.
“Don’t,” Roy said. “Everyone lay your weapons down. This ship belongs to Earth fleet."
“It belongs to the people now," Officer McCallum said. “Now we will have the advantage.” He slowly turned back to the console.
Roy took one more step forward. “Officer, think about what you're doing."
"I have thought about what I'm doing. Our planet is attacked. And the people get cut off from resources. Meanwhile all you military people and Wartech try and keep us from getting what’s ours. That changes now."
“I get it,” Roy said. “It’s a bad situation. But all this fighting. Stealing this ship. That’s only going to make it worse.”
McCallum hesitated for a moment.
“Don’t listen to him,” one of the officers said.
“I’m Captain Roy Allen. What’s your name?”
“What do you care?”
“You’re right. Sorry. I don’t mean to patronize. Just listen, Officer—”
“McCallum.”
“Great.” Roy lowered his gun. “Officer McCallum. You and your guys made it here pretty fast. You already got this girl’s engines warmed up. I’m guessing you were Earth Fleet at one time?”
“I was XO on the Sangria,” McCallum answered.
“I read about that ship,” Roy said, easing the tension. “That was the first tour of the whole war. Hell of a time as I understand it. Catters had you—”
“McCallum!” one of the other officers shouted.
“Shut up!” McCalllum ordered. “You weren’t there!” He turned back to Roy. “Whatever they taught you in the academy and school was nothing like the reality.”
“What I learned was a lot of what you’re doing now. What our planet is going through now. But we can stop it.”
“The banks aren’t opening up. Stores are running out of supplies.”
“My family needs to eat,” an officer said.
“I just had a kid,” said another.
“And what happens if you get killed doing this?” Roy asked. “What happens to your kid, then?”
The officers took quick glances at one another. They thought what they were doing was right. Amidst all of the fighting, every one of them thought that taking up arms against those they’d considered new enemies was the only course of action. Haddron’s plan for revenge had taken hold of them exactly as the Nordic had planned it. They were tearing at each other for scraps.
“It may sound arrogant but I’m a pretty good shot,” Roy said. “Honestly, I could have dropped you all as soon as I walked into the room. But after everything I’ve been through, I’m glad I didn’t.”
One of the officers started to squeeze the trigger of his gun, feeling Roy’s statement of skill as a threat.
“Hold,” McCallum said.
The officer instantly pulled his finger away from the trigger.
“Even if you could get this boat out of the water, you’d just have Earth Fleet on you. My ship is docked above this one. My team would blow you out of the sky before you even knew it,” Roy explained. “But you keep trying that engine and they won’t have to. That thing turns over with all thrusters underwater, you’re going to flood her. Might even blow the whole thing up. I don’t know about you guys but I’d rather not blow up.”
McCallum removed his hand from the console.
“He’s bluffing, McCallum,” an officer said. “These things are designed for water launch.”
“Sure,” Roy said. “But not from under it. This is a Wartech design. Not built for total engine submersion.”
“McCallum!” an officer shouted. “Don’t listen to him. He’s military—”
“So was I!” McCallum locked eyes with Roy. “A couple of you were, too, at one time.”
The other officers backed down.
“You could end all this. I don’t know what your officer rank is but it seems to me they listen to you.” Roy motioned toward the other officers. “Maybe they even look up to you. But we’re running out of time. With everything that’s going on, neither of us can afford to stand here much longer. I know you’ve got your ideals but I’ve got my orders. Don’t make me follow them.”
Suddenly the display screen of the bridge lit up, revealing Admiral Mona Collins. “This is Admiral Collins. Who is in command there?” She broke off. “Captain Allen?”
“Forgive my lack of decorum, Admiral.”
“There’s no time for it, anyway. I’m glad you’re there.”
“Ma’am?”
“Captain Irons is on Erra.”
“Haddron went to the Nordic homeworld?”
“In defense of the Nordic homeworld.”
“Why would Haddron attack his own people?”
“He didn’t. The Catters are there. They’ve overrun—”
“Catters?” McCallum asked. “The war is over. It’s been over.”
“I wish that were true, officer. Unfortunately, it’s not. We received a transmission from Erra. They’re demanding the Slagschip.”
“In exchange for what?” Roy asked, completely forgetting about the hijackers.
“Does it matter?”
“What can we do about it?”
“I’m glad you asked that, Captain Allen.” Benjamin Stevens stepped into view behind the Admiral.
“Report to the Wartech fabrication center.”
“Aye, Admiral,” Roy said.
The display screen faded, leaving Roy alone with the officers.
“The Catters are back?” McCallum muttered. “But we drove them out.”
“It’s a long story, Officer McCallum. But if they’re really on Erra then it won’t be long till their back here.” Roy holstered his gun. “There’s really only one choice here.” He turned and started fo
r the door.
“Where are you going?” McCallum asked.
Roy stopped and turned around. “If necessary? To save the world.”
Twenty-Four
Sound the Alert
Irons pressed up against a metallic wall with the others falling in behind him. The sound of machinery and the smell of fuel filled the air. The artificial side of the planetoid was completely devoid of natural life. Except for themselves and the Catters going about their duties, it was a sterile and cold environment.
“Is this what their homeworld looks like?” Jammin asked.
“Never been there,” Irons said. “My guess? This is pretty close.”
“Quiet,” Haddron hissed. “I hear voices.”
Irons stepped back and stared at the wall. His HUD was becoming more and more useful as heat signatures registered through the wall. “I hate cheating.”
“Tactical advantage,” Durham said. “What do you see?”
“Got three of them walking that way.” Irons pointed to his left.
“If you can hear them…” Jammin rushed around the wall.
Haddron dashed in the other direction. Irons and Durham looked at each other, not expecting that reaction. Everyone split up, some going left, some going right. As they came around the wall, prepared for a fight, the only sight they saw was both Nordics trading their sticks for the Catter blades.
“I have to admit,” Jammin said. “I’m feeling a lot better about our odds now.”
Durham grabbed a couple of guns off two of the fallen aliens. He handed one of them to Hannah. “Can you rig it?”
Hannah silently took the gun and began working on reconfiguring it for human use. “What about the other one?” she asked.
Durham slung the second gun over his shoulder. “I have an idea for this one.”
Irons stared ahead, coming face to face with more structures. He could easily fly ahead or even above the other buildings but he didn’t know what the Terraformer looked like. And until everyone was properly armed he didn’t want to leave the others.
“I got it,” Hannah said, handing the gun back to Durham.
ROYAL LINE (War In The Void Book 3) Page 16