Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  The assault craft flew through the rising fireballs. Their speed carried the craft out over the housing portion of Harleton still chased by the laser pulses. They looped up and over to come back to target the batteries. The missile crews tried to launch their missiles blind but weren’t fast enough. Missiles streaked in from the Kthpok craft and Iidx died as their weapons exploded around them.

  With the SAM batteries destroyed the ships attacking the defenses circled out over the forest opposite of where Marrone was waiting then swept back to the base. The defensive laser mounts had stopped firing at that flight when it appeared it was leaving. Pulser fire was redirected at the remaining flights over the base. But when the Kthpok attacking the defenses returned streams of brilliant green pulses swept up to meet them. Explosions of detonating pulses dotted the sky but the aircraft continued their attack. Then the Kthpok were sweeping over the laser mounts dropping a rain of cluster bombs. A carpet of reddish-orange explosions rolled over the bases last line of defenses. Smoke and flame from the destroyed defenses began rising above Harleton.

  While the defenses were being attacked another flight of Kthpok ships went for the base facilities. Green pulses flew from pulser mounts reaching for the Kthpok but the ships were agile enough to force misses. Lasers from the attacking ships tore into hangers, barracks, storehouses and any aircraft still on the ground. Fires touched off by the strafing runs were fanned into raging infernos. Damage Control Iidx who were racing to put out the fires also became targets. Flames leapt twenty feet high and burning debris was blown skyward when the fires cooked off fuel, missiles and other ammunition. The thunder of explosions became a constant roar. More fires were touched off when the flaming debris fell onto houses and buildings.

  The Sam batteries had just been destroyed when the base command center was targeted. A volley of ten missiles speared straight into the lower floors of the structure housing the Control Room. The entire building disappeared in an immense explosion sending a ball of flame and smoke rolling into the sky.

  Captain Ultinanim and the surviving pilots of his flight continued to orbit miles from the base as ordered and watched the battle. They saw the missile batteries score a few kills before being destroyed in turn. Lasers destroyed a few more of the attackers. The flight continued circling until they saw their houses burning and the command center blown apart.

  Although the pulser mounts were still fighting Ultinanim came to a decision and keyed his flight net. “Drivers, this is Flight Leader,” he called. “We’ve seen enough. Form up on me. If we don’t do something right now the base is lost. We’re going in.”

  Enthusiastic acknowledgements came across the net as the remaining fighters resumed an assault formation centered on the Captain. They circled one last time then broke for the base at full speed. There was no attempt to conserve on fuel. Ultinanim wanted, needed to get to Harleton fast to stop the massacre.

  The Iidx fighters crossed the burning perimeter of the base a few seconds after all the pulser mounts had been destroyed. By this time the nineteen remaining Kthpok craft had regrouped and were just starting another pass over the housing sector. Smoke and flames rose from the shattered houses and buildings. Brilliant red laser pulses streaked from the Kthpok craft to destroy vehicles or blow apart Iidx trying to escape the holocaust.

  The Flight Leader noted that his flight of eleven fighters was vastly outnumbered and outclassed but there was no hesitation. His home was being attacked.

  Once again the Iidx were ignored as Ultinanim led his flight around behind the Kthpok. His antennae shivered in confusion. “They’ve let us in their rear,” he muttered. “Why’d they do that?” More buildings were blown apart and he shook his head to dismiss the thought. It didn’t matter right now why the Kthpok were ignoring his flight. What did matter was that he had the enemy in his kill zone.

  Keying his communicator to the flight net once again the Captain called, “All Drivers, weapons are free. Select your targets and kill ‘em. I don’t want any returning to space.”

  Without confirming their orders the pilots of Marrone flight opened fire on the Kthpok with their lasers. The air thousands of feet above a burning Harleton was filled with aircraft and assault craft firing, pursuing, evading, climbing, diving, turning and dying. Each craft was fighting to stay airborne while working to get the enemy in target lock.

  In aerial combat the automated assault craft of the Kthpok had an advantage the Iidx couldn’t match. With no living creature inside the craft to experience the g-forces of extreme turns and climbs the Kthpok vessels could turn sharper and make sudden moves. The Iidx couldn’t. On more than one occasion an Iidx pilot tried to follow an enemy craft through a sharp turn or steep loop only to lose consciousness. Before the Iidx could recover his craft would go into a dive that ended in a fiery explosion among the base housing. Or the helpless craft was destroyed by a Kthpok laser pulse scattering flaming debris over the base below.

  Another advantage enjoyed by the Kthpok was the quick reaction time of computers. When the Iidx targeting systems achieved a definite lock the Kthpok vessel would detect the scans and bank away. The Iidx would fire an instant too late and the brilliant green pulses would pass through the air where a craft had been an instant before.

  The quick reactions allowed the Kthpok to evade fire and move into a firing position of their own behind the Iidx who was threatening them. Once the Kthpok was in the kill zone there was no way for the Iidx to break contact.

  If the first two advantages weren’t enough there was one more critical item. The Kthpok had been in battle and the Iidx hadn’t. The Kthpok had fought the humans and knew what combat was like. All the experience gained in that fighting was used in the programming for these drones. For the Iidx, their experience was in suppressing pirates and the last revolt of a Hive had been over three centuries earlier.

  A few of the Iidx pilots recognized their disadvantages and worked within them. Captain Ultinanim was one. But in the heat and speed of the battle there was no chance to pass what they’d learned to others.

  The Flight Leader swung behind an enemy ship as he’d done twice before in this latest action. Rather than going for a computer target lock which would alert his quarry of its danger the gun camera was used to indicate where the laser pulses would go. A quick glance at the camera screen showed his current quarry was in position. He squeezed the trigger on the control wheel and saw a stream of bright green pulses race ahead. Just before the first pulse impacted its hull the Kthpok craft sensed the danger and started to bank left. Ultinanim gave his head a slight nod of admiration. Those craft were fast and maneuverable, but not fast enough to outrun light. The stream of pulses reached its target while the turn had just begun and blew the craft apart.

  The Captain banked and veered, dodging red and green laser pulses while looking for another target. Seeing a Kthpok craft chasing one of his people he swung around to come in on the enemy’s tail. He worked his fighter back and forth, moving to get a good image on the camera of the evading craft.

  “At last!” he muttered when the ship came into his sights. A tone sounded in his helmet speakers. At the confirming tone he began to squeeze the activator and send laser pulses on their way when his breath caught. He wasn’t using the target lock. That tone wasn’t the acquisition tone. It was an alarm announcing that he was being targeted.

  Ultinanim whipped his head around to see a Kthpok craft on his tail. Instincts reacted and he jerked on his controls, putting the craft in as steep a climb as he could endure then banked into a left turn. Red laser pulses flew through the air he’d occupied seconds earlier. Finishing the turn he dove. But the craft was still behind him.

  Keying the communicator he called, “Flight Leader to Drivers. Enemy on my tail. Need assistance.”

  “This’s Three,” came a quick response. “Acknowledged. I’m a little busy but as soon…”

  A burst of static cut off the transmission. A short distance away an explosion appeared and a craft
disintegrated. There was no other answer to his call for help. A quick glance at his HUD was depressing. All of his flight had been destroyed, even the pilot he’d come to help was gone. Only he was left to make the Kthpok pay.

  The loss of his entire flight coupled with the continuing destruction of his hive base caused a brief hesitation. He pulled his craft out of the dive then into a sharp right turn a thousand feet above the burning base. His aircraft was just coming out of the turn when a stream of red laser pulses arrived. Ultinanim reached for the ejection lever with a middle arm and pulled. Pulses tore through the metal fuselage of the Iidx craft, rupturing the fuel cells. The explosion of the aircraft added force to the rockets propelling Ultinanim up and away. Several pieces of shrapnel pierced his thorax. One severed his left middle arm. The pain from his injuries was so intense he fell unconscious. A moment later, at the point the ejection seat began to fall towards the burning base, a parachute was deployed.

  The remaining sixteen vessels of the Kthpok force formed up over the burning Iidx base to make several more passes. They ignored the lone Iidx parachuting towards the surface. Incendiary bombs and lasers were targeted on any standing structures. When the Kthpok force began to climb for space and their carrier ships they left behind a devastated, burning pile of rubble.

  After the drone ships had engaged the Iidx on the surface of Main Hive the Kthpok fleet in orbit separated into squadrons. Only the Colony ships, the Control and Carrier ships remained in stationary orbit over Tarren Island.

  Ensign Comunit in the scanning suite of Refuge noted the movement of the ships and alerted the Swarm Master. Attempts were made to warn the ODP’s but at the beginning of their maneuver the Kthpok began jamming all radio frequencies. That prevented any messages from getting through. Iidx in the Orbiting Defense Platforms saw the Kthpok vessels approach but were confused by the turmoil on Main Hive and the loss of communications. Only one ODP, the Sargon, was ready to face the enemy.

  “Kthpok Swarm closing,” called out Lieutenant Wasat, the scan officer for the ODP Sargon.

  “Count and class,” asked Captain Erit. “When will they enter their launch range?” He’d assumed command of the platform just a month earlier at Swarm Master Zelof’s orders and was still feeling his way with his staff. There’d been some hostility when he’d assumed command since the prior commander had been in that position for years. But with the Kthpok approaching he hoped he’d been able to work through many of the difficulties.

  “Fifteen vessels total,” was the quick reply from Wasat. “There are two dreadnoughts, two battleships, six cruisers, and five destroyers.”

  “Those dreadnoughts, are they really dreadnaughts or are they carrying those smaller ships the Swarm Master warned us about?” Erit asked.

  Lieutenant Wasat paused for a moment to consult his equipment before answering. “I’ve used magnification to check their configuration, Captain,” he replied. “I can confirm they are traditional dreadnaughts not carriers. Those ships have the missile launchers and pulser mounts expected for dreadnoughts.” He shook his head. “I don’t have the specs on their missiles Captain so it’s difficult to know when they’ll launch.”

  “I understand Lieutenant,” Erit replied. “Assume their missiles and launchers have the same capabilities as ours. When will they launch?”

  “With that base,” said Wasat, “they’ll launch in five minutes.”

  Erit nodded his head. “That’s what I thought. At least we don’t have to worry about those drones,” he said. “They’ll be someone else’s death.” He’d read reports on the Kthpok exercise in the outer system and knew the Swarm Master was very concerned about the innovations the Kthpok had developed.

  Without another word he left the scanning suite and went over to communications. “Confirm all stations are at Battle Alert,” he ordered Lieutenant Paradin. “I want all launchers and mounts ready. Damage Control confirm ready as well. We’re about to come under attack.”

  As the Kthpok Swarm continued to close on the Sargon reports from each section of the defense platform confirmed ready. Commander Vilban, Erit’s second in command, moved over to stand next to his commander who was examining the Tactical Plot and spoke in low tones. “Sir, the Kthpok force we’re facing isn’t a full Swarm,” he observed. “We’re strong but not that strong. Our defenses were designed to work in conjunction with the Space Swarm. The metal they’ve sent against us is more than enough to knock us down without that support.”

  The Captain nodded his agreement as he continued to study the Plot. “That’s true, Commander. We’re still going to fight though.” He glanced over at Vilban. “I don’t think the Kthpok are going to give us the opportunity to surrender. Do you?”

  “I’m picking up targeting scans, Captain,” called a tech from his station.

  The Second waved his antennae in agreement. “No sir, I don’t think we can surrender.”

  “Counter measures go basic,” ordered Erit. “Targeting, we’ll concentrate on one dreadnought. All missile tubes are to be loaded, armed and ready. When the target’s destroyed shift to the other dreadnaught. Scanning, find me their flagship.”

  Acknowledgements came in as Vilban spoke again. “Concentrate our firepower on only one ship Captain?” he asked in low tones so only Erit could hear. “They can do that because we’re the only target. But can we do it?”

  “You said it yourself, Commander. We can’t survive.” Erit looked around at the officers and ratings scurrying about the ODP’s control room, preparing for battle. A quick glance at the countdown on the Tactical Plot showed the enemy launch was imminent. He nodded at all the activity going on around them. “Our people are smart enough to realize that as well. What we’re going to do is reduce the Kthpok strength as much as we can for our Swarm when it gets here.” The Captain turned back to Vilban to give an emphatic wave from his antennae. “And the Swarm will return to exact justice against those who betrayed us.”

  Before the Commander could reply an announcement came from Lieutenant Wasat. Missile launch! I have thirty missiles inbound.”

  “What about the Kthpok ships?” asked Erit. “Are they standing off?”

  “Continuing to close,” was the reply.

  “Captain, shouldn’t we reply as well?” prompted Vilban.

  “Point Defense track the incoming,” ordered Erit. “Counter measures ready for escalation, on my command.” He turned to look over at the Scanning station. “I want a countdown to impact,” he ordered. “And locate that flagship!” The countdown ordered by the Captain appeared on the main screen an instant later.

  “Captain,” prompted the Second again. “Our response?”

  Erit held up a true-hand for Vilban to wait. His attention was centered on the screen and the countdown. “Counter measures…” he said, “counter measures… boost now!” An adjustment was made by the EWO that enhanced the ODP’s capability of their electronic defenses.

  The targeting computers in the Kthpok missiles ‘saw’ a stationary orbital platform shift position. These were shipboard weapons programmed to react when the target went through evasive maneuvers. Two thirds of the incoming missiles adjusted their flight path to go after their target in its new location. The rest held firm to their original course.

  “Ten missiles still target on us,” announced Wasat.

  “Point Defense is free. Kill those missiles!” ordered Erit.

  Counter missiles erupted from their launchers and raced for the missiles targeted on the Sargon. Explosions dotted empty space when missiles reached the point where their targeting computers said their target was supposed to be. A short moment later more miniature suns decorated the sky around the ODP as CM’s eliminated the remaining threat.

  “All missiles destroyed,” called out the Scan Officer. Although it wasn’t professional Erit could forgive the note of triumph in the voice of the young Iidx.

  The Captain looked over at Lieutenant Wasat. “What about the Kthpok Swarm?” he asked.


  “They’re continuing to close.”

  Nodding, Erit turned back to his equipment. “They’re coming in to burn through our defenses and insure hits,” he said and sent a predatory grin at Vilban. “But that works both ways.”

  “Captain Erit,” called Lieutenant Wasat. “I’ve identified the Kthpok command ship for this force.”

  “Which ship?”

  Using his equipment the officer highlighted the ship on the Tactical Plot with a golden circle. “The Plot’s updated, sir,” he announced.

  “Very good, Lieutenant,” said Erit then nodded to his Second. “All launchers are to target that vessel, Commander. Upon acquisition confirmation, I want a single, large salvo fired. That’ll overwhelm their defenses. Get the launchers reloaded and target the other dreadnought. Don’t wait for confirmation of the first target’s destruction. If we need to we can retarget later. Have the pulsers ready for close in energy fire.”

  A moment later the targeting was confirmed and seventy capital missiles were launched. The immense orbital platform barely twitched when that launch occurred. As he waited for the launch tubes to be reloaded Erit listened as his officers continued their reports.

  “Second dreadnought targeted.”

  “We have incoming missiles.”

  “Point Defense tracking.”

  “Launchers have reloaded, targets are firm. Launching… now!”

  Erit looked at his plot to watch the missiles. There were two waves of green icons moving towards a cluster of large red icons. A similar wave of small red icons was heading for Sargon. A second wave of smaller red icons appeared on the Plot as the Kthpok launched again. The Captain’s antennae twitched as he ached to do something, anything more. But his orders had been given. All he could do now was watch and get out of the way.