Galactic Defenders- Perseverance

by Michael Mishoe

  ​“Hayley!” Rickman shouted over the clamor. “What’s going on?”

  ​Hayley worked on the computer console before her, and the holographic display in the front of the room zoomed in on a cluster of approaching objects. Over eight dozen of the Ribiyar’s fighters instantly came into view, as well as three huge cruisers and three dozen other craft that Jack didn’t recognize.

  ​It was only a matter of time before they came for us, Jack though to himself. Time for round two.

  Rickman didn’t waste any time maintaining control. “Tell everyone to gear up and prepare for deployment. If they breach the perimeter and get in, we’ll have the fight of our lives.”

  ​“What are those things?” Syvon asked, pointing at the foreign objects.

  ​“Searching the database now, sir,” Hayley called as she lowered the sound on the alarm.

  ​The screen again shifted to schematics of the objects. They were large, dagger-shaped craft, twice the length and width of a bus. But besides the layout of the craft, there was another form as well.

  ​In design, they were similar to the Ribiyar soldiers, but taller warriors with huge energy cannons in place of a right arm, cylindrically shaped with jagged spear-like edges protruding from the device, and on their heads was a targeting scope replaced the right rectangular eye socket.

  ​“They are called Lit’tra,” Haley said, “which translates as… Destroyers. Sir, from what I can tell they are very strong. If they get inside the wall and aren’t dealt with immediately, they could spell disaster for us all.”

  ​Rickman turned to the Captain Syvon. “Syvon, we’re going to need Defender and the rest of the ships in the fleet out there to take out those cruisers, but I want you and the Thunderfox to stay behind and assist the Facility’s defenses. Pay special attention to these Destroyers and shoot them out of the sky. We’ll get back as soon as we can.”

  Looking to the other captains in the room, Rickman continued, “Everyone else, get to your ships. We've got a battle to win. And I want you guys,” he said, addressing Brown and his men, “to get ready in case those Destroyers get past our defenses.”

  ​After Rickman and the other captains ran to their vessels, Jack and the rest of the group gathered together.

  Once more out of the boiling pot and into the fire pit.

  ​“All right guys,” Colonel Brown , his New York accent thickening as his adrenaline started pumping, “get your gear together and report back here in five. If those Destroyers do manage to get past our defense perimeter, we need to be ready to finish them off.”

  ​“Vade,” Brown said as the group cleared out of the room, “I want you to stay here and use your techno magic to link up to the computer and optimize the performance of the weapons in this place and coordinate where our forces need to go. I know you’re still not feeling too hot after the last time you interfaced with this place but you’re our best shot of maximizing the defenses. No one here has had much time to get as acquainted with all this equipment like you have.”

  ​“I understand, colonel, and agree with your decision completely. Once I am connected, I will do what I can to best direct response teams to intrusions in the defense perimeter.” Jack looked down at Blitz, who simply looked back up at him from his spot on the floor. “Blitz, I need you to go with them and fight the Ribiyar.”

  Blitz’s fur bristled at the mention of the aliens, the death of his master still fresh on his mind.

  “Don’t hold anything back. Do you understand your orders?”

  ​Blitz nodded as he meowed, as if accepting a challenge to best the Destroyers, and Jack transmitted his activation signal. Blitz closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened, they were crimson red, ready for battle.

  ​ As Blitz rushed out of the room to prepare for the upcoming battle, Jack prepared his systems and walked up to the upper level. Hayley began organizing the personnel in the Control Center and assigning them to their tasks. Thought Jack knew that he had to risk connecting to the computer to provide the best defense possible against the Ribiyar, but the residual effects from the previous were still fresh on his mind. Refusing to let fear of the unknown stop him, Jack gathered his strength and approached the console.

  ​“You sure you’re up for this?” Hayley asked. He saw the concern in her eyes, and perhaps the flicker of something else.

  ​“As ready as I can be.” He gave her a light grin and she nodded her understanding. She stepped away from the central console on the platform, yielding it to him.

  ​No time to spare, he placed his hands on the console and initiated the computer link. Tiny nodes on his hands produced electric pulses, lancing onto the surface of the console and provided a conduit through which information could travel between the computer and him. The chaos of the Control Center died down and the environment around him faded. The area grew darker and darker, until he was silently consumed by the black waves.

  Location: Aboard the Defender, beneath the ocean’s surface near the Freedom Bound island

  ​“Status report of the fleet!” Captain Rickman ordered as he rushed into the bridge. Slightly nauseous from the high-speed fighter trip from the Holding Facility to the Defender’s hanger and winded from the run to the bridge from the lift, he did what he could to jump into action the moment he stepped in the room.

  ​ The deck plating beneath his feet hummed with energy as the engines ignited, and Rickman similarly felt adrenaline surge through his body in anticipation of the upcoming battle. He quickly made his way to his captain’s chair in the middle of the bridge, just under the shadow of the foreboding large central console.

  ​Lieutenant Commander Kevin Nickland, currently filling in as temporary second-in-command for Commander Hayley, reported from his station on the second level.

  “The Thunderfox is currently undergoing takeoff procedures and will be deployed within three minutes. The rest of the fleet has been deployed from the island and is reporting full battle readiness, given the current circumstances.”

  ​After pausing to check the readout on his console, Nickland added, “Sensors report that the three Ribiyar star cruisers are holding course towards the island, but the other craft appear to have broken off and are approaching the island out of the reach of our forces.”

  ​ Rickman nodded. “It looks like the Thunderfox is in for quite a challenge. Hail Captain Syvon and make sure he is aware that he has hostiles coming in on him hot.”

  ​While Nickland hailed Syvon, Rickman retrieved a pair of magnetic boots from a compartment in the side of his chair that would keep him attached to the deck during the flight. He put them on and then stored his other shoes in the compartment for safekeeping.

  ​The ship shook as the thrusters slowly propelled it upwards and Rickman activated the internal comm to broadcast through the whole ship.

  “Attention all hands. A Ribiyar squadron has been detected rapidly approaching our location. Our mission is to neutralize the star cruisers, who obviously pose the biggest threat to our forces, and then return to defend the Holding Facility against any Ribiyar forces still assaulting it. As always, the stakes are high, and our chances for survival are slim. But we will defeat our oppressors and live to continue the fight. Captain Rickman, out.”

  ​Just as Rickman deactivated the comm, the Defender broke through the water’s surface and continued its ascent into the air. The large holographic display above the central console showed the Ribiyar cruisers quickly approaching their location.

  Taking in a deep breath, Rickman gave the order everyone was waiting for: “Helm, take us in, and fire weapons the moment we’re in range. It’s time to show those dome-heads what we organics are made of.”

  Chapter 3

  Date: July 13, 2132

  Location: Unknown

  ​Jack opened his eyes and, as he expected, he saw that he was no longer in the Control Center. His environment was different than the empty, featureless expanse he had seen before in the virtual alien mindsca
pe. Now he saw before him a schematic-like representation of the Holding Facility, showing all the different parts of the structure, from components that insured the operation of the Facility, to others that were so small they were seemingly insignificant. Everything about the structure glowed blue like the ocean, illuminating him in its light.

  ​Though the sight around him was stunning, he forced himself to focus on his task. As if on cue, the area outside the confides of the Facility was illuminated in red as hostile targets were detected. The approaching Ribiyar vessels and fighters were all represented in miniaturized versions of themselves and were rapidly approaching the Facility from all sides.

  ​ Several of the attackers opened fire, and their weapons struck several of the higher support pillars around the central tower. The sections that were hit were highlighted in orange , indicating that damage had been inflicted, and the varying brightness of the color relayed the severity of the destruction.

  ​Stop getting distracted with the environment Jack. You can do this. You can do this.

  ​Just focus.

  ​Jack closed his eyes and concentrated hard on what he wanted. He had no idea how to do that. It wasn’t a simple matter of typing in instructions. He had to find a way to communicate on a deeper level.

  ​Another wave of shots wracked Freedom Bound as a numbing tremor shot through Jack's limbs. He felt pressed upon on by the foreign attackers.

  ​But that doesn’t make sense, I’m not feeling this. Where is it coming from?

  ​And as the structure was hit again, and the tremors shot up him once more, it finally dawned on him. He felt what the base was enduring. He was completely linked and experiencing its suffering.

  ​I have to stop thinking about what I want… and see it through my new eyes. These Ribiyar mean to destroy me. They’re going to level every part of me.

  ​I must defend myself.

  ​Jack felt a rush of energy stir within him. He opened his eyes and was almost blinded by the light. Circuitry and power conduits all around the base lit up as energy traveled through them and into the massive cannons. Information hovered around each cannon, reporting the status of each device, but the data about the weapons only presented itself to Jack if he focused on that single device, shielding him from being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data available.

  ​He turned his head and saw the cluster of fighters streaking towards Freedom Bound. He stretched out his hand, and a white circle materialized around it. A beam shot out from his hand, struck the fighter craft, and it blinked out of existence. As more beams shot out, the same happened with the other ships.

  ​Finally understanding how it worked, he let himself loose against the attackers. His consciousness felt like it split into dozens of pieces, echoes of himself all aiming and firing the weapons, but he felt in full control in spite of the chaos.

  ​Time to see what I’m made of.

  ​For several minutes, he fought relentlessly and kept the perimeter intact. The fighters dove relentlessly, closer and closer with every pass.

  However, a single Destroyer made it through and ravaged the energy cannons in the area. The breach in the defenses allowed a handful of fighters to slip in and drop of soldiers to invade the area.

  ​He felt a sharp sting in his arms as he waved his hand to the side, directing waves of Recon Drones to engage as troops closed in. But with the Destroyer now inside the walls, he couldn’t fire on it with his cannons or risk damaging the base in the crossfire.

  ​All right Brown. It’s up to you guys to keep yourselves safe now.

  Location: Freedom Bound, the Defender-controlled Holding Facility positioned in the Atlantic Ocean

  ​“Keep it together boys! They’re coming at us hot!” Colonel Brown yelled as his men attacked the Ribiyar.

  ​Though a few of the blasts got lucky and hit their targets, most of them were absorbed or reflected off the alien’s shiny metal skin. The Ribiyar returned each shot taken at them ten-fold and with near pinpoint accuracy. Bodies from both sides slowly began their fall as the battle raged in the “Midlands”, the vacant spaces around the numerous domed buildings within the walls of Freedom Bound. The Midlands’ silver-colored plating was marred by the discharged weapon blasts and firepower raining down from the alien invaders, and there were various equipment, parts, and devices scattered throughout the area.

  ​ In the middle of the area was a small gunnery post, an empty space with room to fit about fifteen people. It was outfitted with a slender, long black turret mounted on the roof and operated from a small device that resembled a pull-down scope of a submarine.

  ​“They just keep coming!” Major Aru exclaimed as he fired his weapon out the small window. He blocked their shots with the long, black rectangular metal shield he carried on his left arm, reinforced to stand up to the aliens high-powered weaponry.

  ​“Who cares?” Victor replied as he cut through the aliens with the Phantom Blade from behind chunks of debris. “As long as they give us something to shoot at, shred to pieces, or blow up, does it matter how relentless they are?”

  Just as Victor sliced through another alien, a sound thundered above them, dwarfing all of their gun fire.

  ​Brown glanced out the window next to him, the coast clear, and saw a huge, dagger-shaped fighter rocket from behind one of the domes. It clipped its side and wing on another dome and flew straight toward them. A dozen Ribiyar soldiers hung on the outside of the vessel, magnetically attached to the vessel.

  ​Lieutenant Commander Stone, manning the turret, opened fire and shot a single, deafening blast. The craft was consumed in smoke and went down hard, crashing into the ground, and came to rest about fifteen yards away from the station.

  ​Lacking a clear shot of any alien survivors, he motioned for the rest of his unit - Stone, Aru, Davidson and Rogers - to follow him, leaving a few volunteers to hold down the area. He ducked through an open threshold just as the dust settled. They spotted a few Ribiyar and quickly shot them down, and with everything quiet around them, Brown finally took a moment and let out a breath of relief.

  ​And just as he did, the sounds of dozens of roaring furnaces rang out and the crashed hulk began to shift and move. The craft quickly rose higher and higher, seemingly beginning to float off the ground, until it was hoisted straight upwards. A massive, twenty-five-foot body emerged, previously hidden, folded, and compressed under its flight equipment.

  ​Its huge, silver energy cannon shimmered in the sun light. Long, slender, and curved spikes surrounded it like a rose protected by its thorns. Its head, slightly more humanoid, was adorned with a targeting scope where its right eye would be. Its left, rectangular eye socket burned dark orange instead of blue, providing a window for its attackers to see into its ruthless, calculating soul.

  ​I just can’t catch a break.

  ​Acting quickly, Lieutenant Commander Stone let go of his Laser rifle, letting it fall to his chest from its strap, as he drew several EMP arrows onto his bow and fired them at the Destroyer just as it finished straightening up. The arrows struck the alien in the chest and then sparked as they released the electro-magnetic pulse. But instead of collapsing, the massive alien glanced down at the arrows stuck to its chest and then turned its gaze towards Brown and the others.

  ​“Aw… crap,” Stone muttered as he replaced his bow with a compact Laser Rifle fixed on his back.

  ​“Let him have it!” Colonel Brown yelled as he opened fire with his modified AK-47.

  The other officers followed Brown’s lead and opened fire. Victor managed to get some deep cuts with his energy blades as the turret on the station fired again at the alien. The blast knocked the Destroyer’s right shoulder back but it simply swung its right arm back around.

  ​The end of the barrel on the gun began to glow, roaring like a revving jet engine. When its arm was lined up, it braced its feet and fired.

  A massive yellow blast shot out and the entire base exploded, consuming everyone inside
in the inferno. The blast threw Brown off his feet and he crashed several feet away, several of his ribs shattering against the concrete.

  ​Gasping for breath, he forced himself to his knees. As he looked up, he saw Aru, knocked off his feet closest to the Destroyer, struggling to stand as the alien raised its firing arm. He fell just as he had his footing and the alien unblinkingly unleashed its firepower upon him.

  The blast consumed Aru and when the smoke cleared, all that remained where fading embers and ash.

  ​“Aru! No!” Brown yelled out as Rogers got up and pulled back a throttle on his weapon.

  Fury raged over Rogers, and he channeled that emotion towards the aliens. He slammed his flame thrower into over-drive, sending out a massive wave of flames that covered the mighty beast, distorting its view while he tried to damage its weapon with a Laser rifle in his other hand.

  ​Seeing his chance to strike, Victor rushed into action, charging towards the Destroyer as it recovered from the fire. Letting lose a battle cry, he used his armor’s tail to launch him high into the air swinging the Blade to cut right through the alien’s chest.

  But at the last moment, a massive hand emerged from the flames, snatching Victor out of the air and tossing him aside as the rest of the Destroyer emerged. Other than its armor smoking from the fire, it was otherwise unscathed from the attack.

  ​Brown used the last ace he had up his sleeve as Stone laid down covering fire. He reached into his pocket, found a small trigger, and pressed down hard on the button.

  An Enforcer Pod shot out from behind a corner of one of the domes, racing towards them with tremendous speed. Its spear-like legs deployed from the spherical surface, launching it into the air once it hit the ground. As it soared through the air and spun wildly, its legs reached out and it streaked right toward the alien to divebomb it.

  ​Seconds before the Pod impacted, the Destroyer side-stepped out of the its path. The alien tank crashed and the Destroyer slammed its fist into the top of the pod, pinning it helplessly to the ground and cracking its shell.