“Snake, where is that toothy bastard you found onboard the Generations ship?”
“He is on the ship in his cage,” he answered, continuing his workout.
“Any reason he isn’t here learning how to defend our ship?” I asked.
“He creeps people out.”
“Get his ass cleaned up if he needs it and bring him for the next session. How has he been behaving?”
“Fine. Totally different from when he was trying to eat me,” Snake answered and laughed. “He has plenty to eat and drink and I think enjoys having people around. He isn’t so lonely.”
“All right then. I’m going to give him a duty to perform but he needs to be here training.”
“I’ll go get him after we’re through.”
That’s done, find the officers now. I made my way down the familiar corridor and found that people wanted to get out of my way. Currently innocent of any wrongdoing, I assumed my reputation guided their thoughts. It was only a few moments more when I ran into Lieutenant St. James exiting the dining hall. She saw me, turned and began hoofing it toward the bridge.
“Melanie, slow down please,” I asked in a normal voice. “We never get to talk, always something in the way of it.”
“Benjamin, what are you doing here?” she asked and sighed. “I hope you’re not going to make trouble.”
“Not at all. Just checking on the training sessions.”
“Natalia has caused enough excitement for one day,” she said. “And Captain hasn’t forgot your antics from the other day.”
“Hey, I went easy on Johnson, wouldn’t have broken his wrist if he kept his hand off his sidearm.”
“Well it screws up the duty roster every time you come aboard. The longer you stay, the busier the Med bay gets, and the more we have to adjust and work people double shifts.”
“No argument here. I promise, no problems. Where are the captain and admiral?”
“They are meeting in the conference room; I believe you know where it’s at.”
“Ha, you know me too well. Is it a meeting meeting, or just some bullshitting going on?”
“I wouldn’t know; I wasn’t invited.”
“If you ever want your own ship, let me know. You might have a few rough characters in your crew, but it would be yours to whip into shape.”
“Really, you’re offering me a ship?” she asked.
“I’ll even throw in an eye patch and new frilly wardrobe, and pay for some tattoos,” I answered, joking.
“I have a tattoo. If you’re really nice I’ll show it to you someday,” she said, reaching up to touch my face. She pulled her hand away slowly and continued to the bridge. Damn, it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
“Mel, I was serious about the ship,” I yelled after her.
“I was serious about the tattoo,” she fired back.
Well, that was a strange but satisfying conversation with someone I hadn’t spoken to in ages. Now this, it probably won’t be so satisfying. I opened the door and had four sets of eyes looking back at me. Aisling, Lorelei, Binda and Jared. Odd, the last one being here, but we would see.
“I hope we aren’t making plans without me?” I asked. My smile didn’t reach my eyes.
“No, just ship movements and departure order for when we are ready to leave,” Binda said, looking nervous. Lorelei seemed at ease, so I wrote it off.
“I guess my timing is perfect then. I’m going to put together a crew and team and leave immediately. The rest of you can follow in a few days after the others have more training under their belts. Lorelei, you’re with me. Binda, stay with the trainees and help Adeen, get that Generations ship in order. Put everyone to work. I’m going to lock down the labs before I leave. Any questions?”
“Benjamin, I don’t want to stay with Adeen,” Binda said. “I’m going with my fleet. I’ll make sure she has a start on things before I leave. I’m sure she will be able to sort out her people more accurately on the trip to Dratma 6.”
“Fair enough,” I responded. It was her fleet. “Travel with Sash on her ship. You need to spend some quality time with her.”
“She could travel on the Warhammer,” Aisling said defensively.
“She could, but I know Sash will listen and do as she is told, when she is told. I don’t have the same expectations of you and your ship.”
Jared began getting out of his seat, anger written on his face. “If you’re leaving the meeting, go ahead, but if you’re thinking of anything else, you need to sit back down,” I said. I could beat him from the first time I met him and now he wouldn’t last a minute. He was tough and a good marine, so I didn’t want to hurt him. It would piss off the other marines out there trying to teach basic skills to a bunch of space rats.
He left the room but not before trying to throw a shoulder into me on his way out. I didn’t budge and he bounced off, further infuriating him. “Binda, you ok with everything?” I asked.
“What if she wasn’t? It wouldn’t do her any good,” Aisling said.
“She isn’t you. whatever we had is obviously done, gone, Aisling. You’ll do as I say or you’ll leave.”
“Benjamin enough, please,” Binda said.
“I’m going to get my people and prepare to depart. This is a recon run, Binda, so make sure to keep the fleet together, and don’t depart for two to three days. You’ll have plenty of time to make an emergency stop and they’ll never know you exist.”
“It’s a good idea. I want to see you before you leave. That’s an order,” Binda said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Fourteen
I thought I would watch some of the training, but when I got back to the hold I found a mech suit in combat mode and Lieutenant Jared standing next to it. Most of the people were off to the side and my team was corralled together by the marines. Harry was wearing his new armor. It was gladiator style, with a solid chest plate and movable scales of metal hanging down over his groin. His arms were covered by upper and lower braces, and his legs were covered in what looked like thigh-high metal boots. His helmet had three rows of spikes and covered his head except for slits for his eyes, mouth and ears.
It was the same laminate steel that I had designed for my armor. I ignored everyone else and walked over to inspect his armor.
“How do you like it?” I asked enthusiastically.
“Will take some time to feel right,” Harry answered.
“Well, we are leaving so bring it with you. Nedra, Snake, Ronnie, Genius, grab your stuff. Adam, Buddy, Grubb, you too.” I walked over to Natalia and gave her a hug. “Binda is going to be riding shotgun with Sash when the rest of you leave. Keep an eye on her, or, better yet, have those two big buffoons of yours do it.”
“Jewels and Broken?”
“Yeah, let them know what I’ll do to them if anything happens to her.”
“No problem, what are you going to do about that situation over there?”
“It will sort itself out,” I said. “Keep an eye on Dog’s armor till I’m done.”
“You people aren’t going anywhere until we say you can leave,” a voice said from behind me. “Lieutenant’s orders.” I turned to find my people looking from me to one of the marines standing with his arms crossed in their path. This was a stupid move on their part.
“You know…I’ve given your captain numerous chances to leave peacefully. A mistake was made inviting you here. This may not be the life for you. That’s fine. But she has insisted on staying with us and, by doing so, you will do as I say or some people are about to have a very bad day. I don’t want this, so move aside and let them pass.”
“If we refuse?” he asked. The other marines began voicing their support. Luckily, they had no weapons.
“All of you! Shut up for minute.” I looked to their leader. “Jared, does Aisling know you’re doing this?” I asked. He didn’t answer. “Ok, good enough. This was your idea; you’ll answer for it, not me.”
Deireadh, are you
ready?
Yes, Your Highness. I mean Reaper.
I’m going to touch the mechanical enemy and I want you to analyze the metal and other materials and make me a blade that will cut through it. The rest are human flesh like me. Nothing special is required for them. No feeding unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’ll charge you when we get back to the ship.
I understand.
I took two casual steps then decked the marine in my way. With my momentum, my forearm to his chest was enough. His body rolled across the floor and lay still. I literally ran him over at a speed I would never achieve without the armor. I kept moving toward the mech, not slowing down. I heard it begin to move; there was nothing quiet about it, no surprises in store. I ran right up to it and dodged a spear-type thrust of its arm. I grabbed the arm and used it to swing up and onto the mech’s back. I placed my hands palm down against the flat plating for a few seconds then jumped clear.
“Jared, last chance, then I’m taking this thing apart a piece at a time with no consideration for whoever is piloting it.” I saw him looking at my chest plate and knew Deireadh had taken over as Reaper.
The mech pilot spoke for him. “You’re fast. Lieutenant says you need a lesson in manners. Hope you’re fast enough. Neat trick with the armor, but it doesn’t scare me.”
“What’s your name, Pilot?” I asked him.
“Li.”
“Are you fine with this?”
“Orders is orders.”
“So be it.”
Jared didn’t say a word, so it was on. The fool wasn’t even thinking about the fact that I used to be a mech pilot back in the day. Even without the aid of my armor I knew its weak points. Based off the stance he put his unit in, the pilot was a student of martial arts. While it would be clumsy, against another mech it would have an advantage. I could tell by the way it moved he or someone else had tweaked it so it would match his style. While it was good work and the pilot was skilled, they were slow. I knew its every move almost before it made it.
I also realized that this was not just a beatdown; you didn’t use a mech against a single individual. As a person, if you hit someone you can control the force. While there was a degree of control in a mech, the pilot couldn’t pull a punch in the same way. It was my conclusion that he aimed to cream me. They could tell Aisling anything when it was all over and she would believe it. Too bad it wasn’t going to go their way.
I kept my distance tight, staying in its personal space. Its arm couldn’t fully extend before it hit me. It was like a push. I kept putting both arms up and catching the steel fist or foot and letting it push me back. When it tried a combination of punches, I jumped back far enough that they missed then charged in when it reset its stance. I could tell the pilot was already frustrated, hoping for a quick solution. He drew the two-foot-long bowie knife on its back and locked it in. I was sure had we been planet-side somewhere things would have gone a little different, but this was our playing field, like it or not.
Deireadh, I’m going to use my katana. Coat it as I draw. I don’t want them to see you until it’s too late. Be ready to form the spear point on my other arm on my command.
Yes, Reaper.
The mech swung the knife in a deadly arc; the blade began to heat up. Again, it was no faster than when he swung his fist. I could end this quickly, but they had meant to take me down a few notches in front of my people and that could not stand. I would begin dismantling my adversary now. We would see what it did for my people when I was finished.
I closed my eyes and let out a long, exasperated sigh. The mech stepped within striking distance of blade. It rolled its wrist and was bringing it in a backhand when I shoved my katana in the elbow joint and rode the arm, letting it throw me free. I pulled the katana across and felt it cut through steel and titanium mesh. Electrical wire and braided hoses were cut like butter. It felt and cut like plasma, but wasn’t. Sparks and smoke. A few flames erupted, then were extinguished.
Nothing worked from the elbow down; the arm hung unresponsive. The mech tilted to the side and kicked me, making solid contact. I was launched backward; rolling like a ball, I came up on my feet and charged back in while it was trying to reset itself and compensate for the bad arm. I ran up the disabled side and around behind its head, driving the katana into the shoulder joint of the other arm. I pushed it in and worked it in a rocking motion. Like the elbow, it burned and went limp. Pulling the katana free, I leapt off, landed in front of it and waited in a fighting stance for the mech to make its next move. When it didn’t I moved sideways, circling it, making it adjust. I expected it to try to launch a kick. I was wrong; this time it charged, meaning to run me over.
Watching it move, it seemed slow and deliberate. I waited. Truthfully, only a few seconds passed and it was on me. I made my move. My feet moved only enough that I wasn’t touched, a blade thickness was all the air between us. I thrust into the back of its knee joint and pulled to the side, cutting through the joint and letting the weight of the mech buckle and collapse to the deck. I had won; it was lying face down. I could have walked away, but it wasn’t how the match was supposed to go down. It was a death match that they hoped to win. I climbed up and stood on it, putting my sword point against the flat of its back, comprised of a solid plate able to withstand tons of energy. The pilot began moving the good leg, not wanting to give up, I guessed. No other reason for it.
Now, Deireadh, open it up so I can put the vanquished out of its misery.
Blackness began to roll off me and swirl around the sword. The metal plate moved as if by command and my sword eased in. It felt like I pushed against sand at first.
Now, Reaper, you may finish it.
I pushed hard; resistance fell away. Some of the people present gasped; others yelled. They knew the pilot’s seat was exactly in that spot and so did I.
Deireadh, we are done with this one.
I pulled the blade out and struck the air, flinging the blood from the blade at a downward angle toward Jared, then jumped off and walked toward him. Red specks dotted his face and uniform. He faced me defiant and angry. My left fist hit his chest before he could move a muscle and knocked him on his ass. Something may have broke. I didn’t care. I let my left hand grow into the long, four-edged spear point. If I impaled him with it, there would be a bloody, X-shaped wound in his body. I put it to his throat.
“This is on you, asshole,” I said. “You or any of your people try some stunt like this again and I’ll just kill you all. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?” People gathered around me; they were all mine. There was a comfort in their presence. The marines who were training my Privateers and their families stood around in shock and anger. I needed to nip that in the bud too. So I left Jared on the floor and stalked toward them until they backed up.
“Stop moving. We’re going to have words and I want you to listen,” I ordered and they stopped.
“What you just saw was someone being very stupid. None of you have anything to fear unless you ignore what I’m telling you. Train these people just as you were before the Lieutenant lost his mind. We are going to war and there is no place for you if you fail me in this, are we clear? I wanna hear you say it.”
“We are clear, sir,” they sounded off in unison. It had been a long time since I heard sir.
“Good,” I said, bringing it down a few notches. “Give that marine a proper sendoff. You know what I mean. I know it’s hard. He was following orders—albeit stupid orders—and fought well. If you need anything, I have some good alcohol on the Claymore. I’ll send it over. Honor him tonight.”
I turned from them and met my daughter again, giving her another hug. I put my lips to her ear. “Keep your weapons ready at all times and pass that on to your people. If tensions get high, I’ll have Binda call the training off and everyone return to their ships, but don’t leave until the planned departure.”
Natalia nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Explain to the young ones and the others I don�
��t want them scared of me, although it might be hard for them not to be. Every time I’m around, something dies.”
“Some of them already are, but I’ll talk to them. Others like Joon won’t be phased.”
“Keep an eye on her. Her mind is fragile, I know.”
“You just took out a mech hand to hand. Damn, Dad,” she said, changing the subject and smiling.
“I know, and I killed its pilot. It’s a damn shame. That’s what some of these guys will focus on.”
“He would have killed you.”
“Oh, I know. I made an example of him, too. Let me get Dog’s armor and get out of here before Aisling finds out and loses her shit. Come on, crew of the Claymore, let’s get to the ship.”
****
Tazleaha watched the standoff between both groups of refugees. The mayor and Dela’maah, in her role as captain, were trying their best to persuade the leader of new group that they should join forces. Of course, their leader thought Dela’maah’s group should join forces with them. It boiled down to who was going to be in charge. Tired of the charade, Tazleaha decided it was time to end it. They would all follow her or else. Again, she knew it would probably come to blood. She might have to kill both pilots so they weren’t tempted to betray her and her people.
This needed to be handled in private and away from both groups until it was settled. Her approach drew their attention, each step rhythmic ease and confidence. Her dirty face, newly cropped hair and Khalnalax laser rifle, cradled in her arms, gave them pause.
“Captain Dela’maah, maybe it would be best if we discussed this matter in private. A place where we could sit and discuss the views of both sides.”
Dela’maah looked back at the leader. “Do you have such a place where we can talk?” she asked. Tazleaha studied both groups, reading multiple emotional responses to the situation. Dela’maah was waiting for the man’s answer. Tazleaha wondered what was he thinking about. Maybe he was planning something.
“Yes, follow me,” he answered after a long pause. He motioned for some of his men to follow him. The mayor, Zora and Dela’maah followed behind.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jaminson: Empires At War (Book 5 Part Two) Page 19