It is, but the queen is engaged in a serious discussion with the emperor. Should you not give her time to finish?
No. They’re wasting air. Time to end this and send them back where they came from.
I wanted the bridge crew to come out of this with little to no damage. Hopefully there were no heroes among them. The guards and the emperor were not going to make it.
“Hey, do those fancy weapons have a stun setting?” I asked the guards. Didn’t care which responded. They both glanced at the rifles they held as if unsure, but I was sure it was just a reflex.
“Yes. It is not something you want to—”
“Feel,” I finished for him as my elbow smashed into his face. I grabbed his weapon before he could hit the floor. I punched my second guard lower in the gut and swung the rifle in my other hand by the barrel. It made a satisfying crack that was followed by the sound of armor meeting the floor. I picked his rifle up and with one in each hand I faced a dozen and a half sets of eyes and stunned faces. A groan reached my ears. I pointed and fired, never taking my eyes off those in front of me.
Six guards detached themselves and headed my way. I charged at them, firing both rifles. The stun setting didn’t work too effectively if it was a glancing shot. Some of them kept coming. It didn’t help that I wasn’t aiming, just pointing, firing and dodging return fire. I noticed the bridge officers had hit the floor as I ducked behind the closest console. For a second I could hear Taz yelling at me to stop. She was nuts if she thought I was stopping anything.
The guards split up, three coming from one direction and two around the other side. One was on the floor twitching. I was closer to the triplets, so they won the toss. I flipped the bloody rifle and swung at the same time I shot up from a crouch. The guard on the left took it in the neck as I spun off his body behind the middle guard, who provided the perfect shield from his two comrades shooting at me. I knifed him in the back of the head with a flat hand and sharpened fingertips, then shot guard number three in the face. Sharpened fingers and stunned at point-blank range in the face meant no getting back up. I dropped, bringing the falling guard with me, and came up firing. While on the floor, I saw the bridge officers, their arms over their heads in sitting or fetal positions on the floor. That was good. I needed them.
Alarms sounded on the bridge and I imagined they were going off throughout the ship. I was sure all hell had broken out by now in the hold. Five down, two to go, then the rest. A glance told me they had taken Taz, Dela’maah and the admiral and held them but not at gunpoint. Their weapons were pointed out toward the action, at me. The emperor was behind his throne, looking over the top of it. Fearless leader.
Weapons fire was all around me now that the other guards were contributing. The desire to stun and capture was over as the soft blue of the stun setting was replaced with a red that burned everything it hit. They’re going to try to kill us, Deireadh. Just a heads up.
Seems an obvious course of action with five of theirs on the floor, Deireadh answered. Leave those two and go after the guards holding the queen and the others. Those two will probably not fire at you for risk of hitting their emperor or their own.
Going close quarters it is, then.
I stood up and threw the rifle, watching it turn end over end, hitting a guard in the chest. His armor caved and he flew backward over the console behind him. I ran straight at the guard holding Taz, then dropped and rolled forward, coming up right in front of her. I felt a burning on the back of my leg at the same time I grabbed the guard’s weapon with my left hand and pulled, bringing them both toward me. Taz was pinned against my chest while the guard took a step back. My right arm hooked around her head to connect with the guard’s face. His weapon fired once before I was able to twist it from his grip. The guard fell behind Taz and I put the rifle in her hands before shoving her to the side out of the way. My back and my leg burned now. I had taken another hit. Both sets of nans would go to work repairing the damage. It was bearable and would be just a memory in a minute or so. Time to burn some energy.
I stepped over the fallen guard. His eyes went wide as my arm went through his chest armor. I pulled upward, lifting him off the floor. I headbutted his face. He slid off and onto the floor. My next target was about six feet away. I bent over for three steps then up as my left arm entered at the armpit and into the chest cavity from the side. My right arm wrapped around Dela’maah and pulled her and my arm free of the dead man holding her. Her eyes grew wide and I pushed her as a red beam flew between us. One left. Charging the lone guard again, I used a lowered stance to hit him and lift his body off the floor before slamming it down. The air whooshed out of his mouth, making it hard to even grunt. I pulled him by his leg back to the area in front of the throne.
“I want all of you Khalnalax bridge officers front and center. Now,” I yelled. “Get a move on or you’ll wish you had.” Admiral Cushda lay on the floor, a pool of blood running out of a hole in his armor. Dela’maah and Taz hovered over him. “If you have a sidearm, it better hit the floor,” I yelled as officers moved out from under their consoles.
Dela’maah rolled Cushda over, then Minister Zentos, who I thought had had a heart attack and died on his feet but must have been in shock, joined them and the three began removing Cushda’s armor.
“He is still alive,” Dela’maah said after checking his neck.
“Get that breastplate off and I’ll see what I can do,” I said. “Emperor Khalnalax, come around here and sit on your throne so I can keep an eye on you. Taz, get Dela’maah a weapon. Where is Zuri?”
I saw one of the crew look over into a space between the consoles. “They stunned her as soon as you started with the first two guards,” Taz answered. I hurried over to check her. “Twice.” I laid a hand on her and Deireadh dispatched a group of nans that disappeared into her ear. Someone was gonna pay for this. I turned and locked eyes with the emperor, who was sitting on his throne.
****
Jared and Kimit stood side by side on the ramp, watching in awe as the Claymore fired over and over. Soldiers ran, looking to escape the death it rained down on them. Jared’s mech sat empty while the others were all occupied, ready and waiting. They had five mechs taking the point, then Kimit’s thirty-odd soldiers in the middle with six mechs bringing up the rear. Lorelei had to fire up the ship so the generator could keep up with the demands made on the ship by the shields and weapons.
“I believe the odds are being evened up. Wouldn’t you agree, Lieutenant Jared?” Kimit asked.
“It’s a slaughter,” Jared answered. “There is no honor in it.” Jared turned his head, continuing his survey of the destruction.
“So you wish for a hero’s death. A fight against insurmountable odds that you cannot win. You and your marines die in glorious battle. Is that it?”
“I would rather we survive.”
“So would we all, and now the odds are in our favor. Let us go find Benjamin and get this over with.”
Lorelei interrupted their discussion. “Kimit, Jared, I’ve deactivated the program and I’m going to turn the ship back around. The God of Overkill has done it again. There are hostiles still alive and the rear ranks fled into the ship through the opening I made for you. Good luck.”
Jared climbed into his mech and sealed it up. The Allond lizardmen watched warily as the mechs went from a resting position to standing at their full height. The mechs turned and twisted, marines making final checks on their units. The Claymore came to rest then Jared led the way down the ramp. Kimit fell back to her position at the front-line center of her team.
“Lights on, everyone, this smoke is thick,” Jared ordered using the external speaker so the whole group would hear his commands. “Looks like hell out here.”
Black smoke hung in the air as fires danced and burned. Sparks spit from live power lines severed by the Claymore’s laser fire. The Allond had it the worst. Their armor only provided protection and had no environmental systems. Their sense of smell, many tim
es better than a human’s, was overloaded. The hardest was the smell of burnt flesh. Bodies smoldered while some burned as small flames consumed clothing and hair.
“What is this so heavy in the air?” Kimit’s second in command asked, looking through the beams of the marine’s search lights. “It offends my senses and I can taste it.”
“Ash,” Jared answered before anyone else could. “We are going to pick up the pace and get out of here. I’ll leave three of my team behind to hunt down the stragglers.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Kimit said, happy with Jared’s suggestion. She agreed with Lorelei that the tactic was overkill. Three of the human’s machines fell behind and spread out, beginning a search.
The remainder of the assault team reached the melted, warped exit that would lead them into the main section of the ship. An oversized lift farther down the corridor would take them to the next level. Nedra’s lighter touch had damaged the corridor beyond only partially, no more than a quarter of the distance.
“Captain Kimit, my team will go up first. Once we clear the area, we will send the lift down for the rest of you. Team B will stay with your team. I’ll communicate through them if there is a problem.”
“Understood, Lieutenant.” Kimit watched the lift rise; her team and the remaining mechs spread out, monitoring both ends of the corridor for Khalnalax forces. The mechs looked very capable. She felt the lift would be back down in a matter of minutes.
****
“Benjamin. Stop.” The words irritated me. I hadn’t even touched the little shit yet. I was still enjoying the look of terror on his face as a four-foot sword materialized from my right arm. The hilt formed in my hand. It felt natural and gave me better control of the weapon. I thought of my reaper sigil and it formed between the mines under my armor. Which reminded me, I needed to get rid of them. “Your time is almost over,” I thought and Deireadh spoke. The voice sounded like stone going through a rock crusher. I stepped over to Cushda and laid my left hand on the wound. It was triage; Deireadh would cauterize the worst of it to stop the blood loss until they could get him to medical.
I had my back to the emperor for only a few moments, then noticed many of the crew looking upward. Part of the floor turned into a platform under the throne and the emperor was on his way out of the bridge via a lift. The ceiling opened up to a perfect fit for the rising platform. Banishing the sword, I took a few running steps and jumped, pulling two of the mines out and activating them with my thumbs. Dropping one within arm’s length onto the platform, I grabbed the edge with my now-empty hand and tossed the other. They stuck when they hit the deck. I let go and the emperor disappeared above.
I imagined the mines might take away the enjoyment I was planning to have with the emperor. The ceiling buckled, setting off more alarms. If the emperor was smart, he had a little time to get to cover before they detonated.
“What’s up there and how do I get there?” I asked anyone. There were no answers forthcoming, so I picked up the nearest guard and held him by his hair.
Deireadh, rip his throat out. My chest swirled and a cowled head shot out. The hood fluttered as if there was a wind. I couldn’t see the face, but I saw the mouth elongate and open. Then it was over. Eyes blinked, legs and arms twitched, and I dropped him. An officer stepped forward. She glanced down at the body, then at my chest.
Smile, Deireadh. I saw her eyes flutter and thought she might faint then she regained control. “I will show you. It will be faster.”
“The rest of you, return to your systems and monitor the ship. All of you now belong to the Privateers of Tazleaha, Queen of Cjittan. That means you work for me now. Helm, fire up the drives and plot a course for Dratma 6.
“Minister Zentos, order your people to lay down their weapons and they will be treated with respect and will remain free. Any action other than what I’ve stated will negate the offer and the offenders will be put down. That includes you, Minister.
“Helm, you have two seconds—”
“Jonni, do as he says,” the female officer next to me ordered.
“Yes, Jonni, do as I say. Dela’maah, pick up all the sidearms and Taz, take the captain’s seat. Make sure they don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”
“Benjamin, what are you doing? No, I know what you’re doing. It’s treason. Why are you doing it?”
“No, it’s not. Sit and keep an eye on them. Shoot anyone who gives you any lip. Lock the doors behind us.”
“C’mon, Officer . . . Officers of the Battleship Neris, you now report to Queen Tazleaha.”
“Oliv. Weapons Officer Oliv.”
“Oliv, sounds good. Let’s go.”
“We aren’t through, Benjamin!” Taz yelled at my back. We already had a talk scheduled from something I did earlier. Maybe we could combine my ass chewings into one. I picked up a rifle lying by the door and checked its charge.
“Till death do us part, baby. I’ll be back.” I waved. We exited the bridge and I followed Oliv. We encountered some of the crew; they were armed and I thought I would have to shoot Oliv and them, but she surprised me and talked them down. They lay down their weapons and went back into the room they had just come from.
“Pick up a weapon, Oliv. I don’t want you not being able to defend yourself.”
“May I ask you a question?”
“Sure, as long as you can walk and talk at the same time.”
“Who are you to order the Queen of Cjittan like she is a common servant?”
“The short, short answer is lover.”
“But you are not Cjittan. I don’t know what you are. How can this be?”
I had Deireadh uncover my head and spared her a glance before covering up. “My armor is one of a kind. It’s a long story we don’t have time for right now.”
“I still don’t recognize your species, but can see you are a sub-species of the Cjittan-Khalnalax stock.”
“Well, this sub-species is kicking your asses and can do the same to the Cjittan if we choose to. How much farther?”
“There is a lift around the corner. It will open into the room the emperor escaped to. It is possible he has locked out the lift and us. There is no other way to access it if he has. I should also warn you that your armor is not one of a kind. The emperor has a sacred armor passed down the line to each new Emperor of Khalnalax.”
“Is that so? You can stay here if you want. I’ll go see if he is available now for what he has coming to him.”
“I will come. I would like to see what happens firsthand. I have a personal interest in the outcome.”
“I figured as much when you volunteered to take me to him. You don’t have to explain. I think I know his type. I will remove him as I have removed the others from existence.”
Did you hear that, Deireadh? There is another like you.
Yes. Why do you sound so happy about it?
You’re going to assimilate it into you.
I do not think it will be possible that we can become one mind. I may be able to defeat it and then you will defeat the emperor. I would suggest that you give it to Zuri. That way you will still have control over it and Zuri will have much better protection from the power weapons.
“He has not locked us out,” Oliv said, bringing me back on task.
“Stay behind me. You have no armor.” The room was dark and smelled of explosives and smoke from electrical fire. Not everything was destroyed. There was the glow from small lights and an ambient light feature that followed along where the floor and wall met. Given the size of the room, I didn’t see any way the emperor could be alive.
“What is this room used for?”
“Bridge officers report here before going on duty to review reports from the previous shift. Or, we used to. The emperor took it over so he could be closer to the bridge, or so he said.”
“Oliv, I don’t see a body anywhere. Is there any place he could have got to before the mines detonated?”
She walked away, not answering until she was
almost to the wall. “There is a storage room right—” The light blinded me for a second and I heard Oliv’s body hit the floor. She made no sound. I could see the hole in the door where the laser blast cut through it, and I dropped to the floor on my back before the door opened. The room lit up again. It was random fire, thinking the targets would be standing.
I kicked at his knees and was rewarded with a scream, so I kicked again. I heard the crack of something hitting the floor, followed by a blinding flash as the laser weapon went off, missing by inches. I knew where his torso was now, so I rolled on my side and kicked out with my other leg, my foot landing solid, eliciting a grunt and deep intake of breath. It felt like something cracked.
Deireadh, I can’t see shit. Can you do something about it for me? Why the hell do I even have to ask? You know it’s dark in here.
Apologies. I took a sample of the emperor’s armor. It should be broken down to its base components in a few seconds.
He is wearing it, huh? I want you to make it your bitch.
It is not possible. Nans have no sex or gender.
Shut up. See if you can reprogram it for Zuri. But not right now.
Reprogramming will proceed more efficiently and faster after the host death.
Let me take care of that part for you. Rolling and pushing up, I was on my feet charging back at the emperor. He swung the rifle like a club, catching me in the side of the head. I staggered over to the wall to steady up. The door was still open and the lift went down. Someone had been paying attention when I fought the guards on the bridge.
Oliv lay unmoving on the floor. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms, then brought the lift back up. In the light, I could see the hole in her chest. Her eyes were open. I shifted her weight and her head fell forward, chin on her chest. She wasn’t one of mine, but I would add her to the list of souls that had been destroyed by the emperor’s greed.
The lift took us down to the corridor where we got on. I set her down and leaned her back against the wall, closing her eyelids. Not that it mattered to her, but the living who came upon her would not have to see her death stare. Time to track down the little shit and finish this.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jaminson: Empires At War (Book 5 Part Two) Page 40