Bombardier - The Complete Trilogy

by SD Tanner

  That didn’t surprise him. No Dunk was ever sane. It meant Ark Three wasn’t coming back anytime soon, so the war was his. “Fine. It is what it is. Keep the pressure on Dunk Three to get that wormhole operational. I want Ark and his squad back asap. The critters are arriving as a blur and then they’ll swarm.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means there’ll be hundreds of thousands of them and they’ll drop from the sky like rain.”

  “Oh shit,” Granger said. “How do we defend ourselves against that?”

  “How many Boms did you make?”

  “Not enough. We’re still transforming people now.”

  “Keep doing that. Leave the Boms and navs topside. Send everyone else underground or anywhere they can lock up tight.”

  “What’s the plan?” Parker asked.

  “The battlefield has moved. This is now a land-based war. Leave the civvies in the cities and pull the troops back to CaliTech. That’ll be our last stand. If Dunk Three gets the wormhole working it’ll be your only way out.”

  “What about the people in the cities? How long can they hold out?”

  He never had a chance to answer Granger’s plaintive question. His ship was breaking through the atmosphere, cutting off his communications channel. Just before his vision turned a fiery red, he caught a glimpse of black bodies falling with him. There would be no time to save the civilians. If they weren’t Bombardiers then they were dead, it was as simple as that.

  When his vision cleared, the blue and green color of Earth opened beneath him. Clouds were scattered across his view. Falling to Earth, also dragged down by gravity, were thousands of critters. It was only the first wave of what would be hundreds of thousands, if not millions. He was out of ammunition so firing at them wasn’t an option. Instead, he studied those closest to him. The screens inside the Bridge gave him a holographic view so it was if there was nothing between him and the falling critters. With their many legs spread wide they were moving at almost the same speed he was.

  “Tank, I’m on my way down with you.”

  Locating Casey’s ship on his screens, he said, “I’ll meet you in CaliTech.”

  She was flying a mile away, falling slightly ahead of him. “There’ll be no time for any of that.”

  Despite himself, he chuckled. “Not even for a quickie? It could be our last one.”

  “And they say romance is dead.”

  He was about to promise her a guaranteed good time, but a critter hurled itself through the air, landing hard against her ship. “You’ve got a Howler. Four-Two, get us closer.”

  His Scorpion veered to the right, swooping down. Casey’s ship was spinning, clearly hoping to dislodge the hitchhiker. The Howler was already face down in the hull, no doubt chewing its way inside. With its longer legs, it had wrapped them tightly around the ship.

  “Forget it, spinning won’t shift it. You need to land.”

  “I can’t. It’s eating through the electronics. We’re going to crash.”

  They were at least two miles from the surface and even a Bombardier wouldn’t survive a crash landing. Their ships weren’t designed for land-based battles, so there was no parachute or even a life pod.

  “Pull alongside it.”

  “Seriously, Tank?” Bombardier Four-Two asked. “We’ll crash with it.”

  “We need to push it.”

  “To where?”

  “Over the sea.”

  Both ships were now joined at the side like warped Siamese twins. Using their thrusters, they were driving both towards the sea next to what had once been San Jose. Falling in an arc, the water was rushing towards him.

  “Casey, once we hit get your crew out. I’ll find you.”

  “Tank, find our son. He was on the rig with me. I love you.”

  They weren’t words that came easily to him. All he could do was try to save her once they’d crash-landed into the sea. It never seemed to matter what he did to show how he felt about a woman. For some reason she would always want to hear the words. “I…I…”

  The impact of the water caught him by surprise, throwing him forward against his harness. Both ships were sinking like stones. Where the screens had once sparkled with the light of planets, now all they showed was a rushing bubbling water. The seas had regenerated leaving them a clear sparkling blue, but up close, the water was full of tiny particles resembling dust in sunlight.

  Unclipping his harness, he shouted, “Evacuate!”

  “Glad you mentioned that. I’d never have thought of it myself,” Bombardier Four-Two said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

  Using brute strength and forcing the hatch open, he pulled the two Bombardiers through the hole. “If we lose radio contact I’ll catch up with you on land.”

  Letting go of the hatch, he began sinking with the ship above him. Swimming away from the hull he continued dropping lower, looking through the water for Casey’s ship. It wasn’t hard to find, but his heart sank when he saw it. The impact had snapped it open as if it had been an apple smashed into a floor. The entire undercarriage was torn apart, filling the ship with water. The body of a Bombardier was hanging limply, still attached to a chair by a partially broken harness.

  Swimming towards the sinking ship, he grabbed the hull, dragging himself underneath. The short tunnel that should have led to the Bridge was gone as was one of the chairs. Casey was still strapped tightly into her command chair. Grabbing at the damaged interior, he pulled himself up until he was next to her. She was wearing full armor, but her arms were drifting out from her body. Rotating himself until he was facing her, he peered through her helmet hoping she was still alive. Through the visor, he could see her eyes were open, staring vacantly at nothing.

  “Casey,” he said softly.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN:

  Happy Birthday, Mister President

  (Granger)

  Tank said it would rain critters and he hadn’t exaggerated. Black spider-shaped creatures were falling from the sky. With their legs spread wide, they appeared to be floating towards Earth on an invisible thread. When they slammed into the ground, they bounced on their many legs before quickly seeking a target. The sound of gunfire was coming from every direction as people fought for their lives.

  “You’re up,” the technician called from across the room.

  Running to the lit area, he tried to be calm knowing he would fail. “Take cover. Get underground. Barricade yourselves in. If…I mean, when we’re able, we will come for you. All Bombardiers head to CaliTech. We need you to defend the city.” Unable to explain why, he raised his hands in a plaintive gesture. “Look, they have tech here. We have weapons. We can bring more through the wormhole. We have to save CaliTech or there’ll be nothing left.”

  It was a one-way conversation and no one outside of the room could answer his plea. The world was ending just as Dunk had said it would. Suddenly his crazy ideas didn’t sound so mad. He knew what was out there and everything he’d predicted was coming true. If there was ever a time they needed him it was now, but Dunk Three was certifiably insane and had killed the only other clone.

  Realizing his final words couldn’t sound so desperate he nodded at the eye of the camera. “Fight for your lives. Do not stand down. We will come for you. I promise.”

  Joan was already at the elevator, waving him over. “We have to go. The children need to go to the underground floors in the medical center.”

  Joining her in the tiny elevator, he took Sophia from her arms. “What about you?”

  “I’ll stay above ground and hold the perimeter around the entrance.”

  He nodded, grateful for her courage. “I need to fight with the troops.”

  “But you’re the President.”

  The door slid open revealing chaos on the ground floor. People were running across the foyer, clutching guns and children. Before handing her his daughter, he took a deep breath of Sophia’s soft innocent scent hoping it wouldn’t be his last. “I don’t think that counts f
or much right now, if it ever does.”

  Grabbing Joan by the arm, he pulled her into the mass of movement in the foyer. Shouting to be heard, he waved his gun high in the air. “Anyone with children follow us.”

  Using his now broad shoulders, he pushed his way into the crowd, tugging at Joan to follow him. The sound of gunfire was steady now, only it was accompanied by screeching. Critters were howling in rage at being bested by a bullet. The foyer had several exits to the rear that opened to the grassy area in front of the medical center. Opening the door, he was confronted by hell. At least twenty critters were storming across the lawns. Bullets were firing across the open area. Most were missing so only a few hit their targets, but a single bullet didn’t bring down a critter. He raised his gun ready to add his shots to the others.

  Taking aim, he fired at a critter with its back to him, ripping a hole in its head. It wasn’t where it kept its brains and the impact only made it whirl around in rage. Firing one bullet after the next, the critter staggered back on half a dozen of its many legs. Unbalanced it fell over and then exploded. Looking around in surprise, he saw a BattleDroid stomping into the middle of the fight. Its shoulder packs were down and it was firing grenades.

  “Hey, robot, get over here!”

  Turning at the sound of his voice, it steadily stomped towards him.

  “Get these kids to the medical center…alive.”

  The BattleDroid appeared to look past him at the anxious faces peering out of the door. “More BattleDroids required.”

  Wondering what he was supposed to do about that, two more appeared from around the corner of the building. Without speaking, they took position on either side of the door with the first BattleDroid at the front.

  “Go! Go! Go!”

  Thirty people all clutching three or even four children hesitantly walked through the door, stepping between the BattleDroids.

  “Move forward.”

  Attracted by the sudden appearance of so many people a critter skittered across the lawn towards the first BattleDroid. Instead of firing at it, the droid punched it hard, using its own momentum to throw it backwards.

  “Move forward.”

  The critter flipped itself back onto its feet only to be slugged again by the BattleDroid. “Move forward.”

  This time the critter fell at the BattleDroid’s feet. Stomping heavily on its head, the BattleDroid said in the same mechanical tone, “Move forward.”

  More critters were running from behind the medical center heading for their group. Raising his gun, he took aim. When a critter launched into the air determined to land behind the BattleDroid, his shot went wild. The critter landed on him and his knees buckled under the weight.

  “Leave my Daddy alone!”

  Charlie might still speak with his baby lisp, but there was no mistaking his rage. Punching at the critter, he battered its head with his small, hardened fists. Joan yanked him away, placing her boot on the critter’s head. “Roll!”

  As she fired, he rolled out from under the critter tearing a leg away as he did. Joan was firing repeatedly into its head shouting, “Die, you piece of shit!”

  Grabbing her arm, he said, “Easy now. I think you got it. Don’t waste the ammo.”

  “Move forward.”

  One solid and thumping step after another, the BattleDroid was leading them towards the entrance to the medical center. Behind the doors, shooters were already guarding it. One of them called, “Hurry up. Get in here.”

  Pushing Joan who was holding Sophia towards the door, he swept Charlie up in his free arm. “Be a good boy for Mommy Joan. Protect your sister. She’s not strong like you.” Kissing him quickly, he placed him back on his feet, scooting him through the open door.

  One of the shooters nodded at him. “It’s alright, Mister President, we’ve got this.”

  Before turning away, he returned their nod. “I have to join the fight.”

  “Good speed, sir.”

  BattleDroids were now standing guard outside of the doors, firing at the critters. Parker ran across the lawn, punching critters as he went. Skidding to a stop, he said, “We’re trying to form a perimeter around the wormhole. Dunk’s working on it. All ships are lifting off to fight from the air.”

  “What about the fleet?”

  “They’re making it back in pieces. They’ve got nothing left, Granger. They must have fought like dogs to get here.”

  “Has anyone seen or heard from Tank?”

  “Last I heard he ditched into the sea.”

  “What’s our highest value asset?”

  “The wormhole. It’s the only way off Earth.”

  Joan was still standing in the doorway listening to Parker. Turning to her, he said, “I have to go. Save our kids.”

  Despite the battle raging around them, she still managed a shy smile. “Our kids?”

  “Yeah, they’re ours now.” Unsure how to explain himself, he was relieved when her smile broadened. “I love you too, Mister President.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY:

  White Rabbit

  (Ark Three)

  “I want to see what’s in one of the smaller cities.”

  Their two ships were flying low across the planet. He’d left Lace at the wormhole coordinates with Mex, the mule and his BattleDroid. Still hoping for a ping back, if they didn’t get word soon then he would be forced to assume the worst. They would be stuck in another galaxy far from home with no way back. If that were case then he needed a base. The largest city was too big and infected with critters, so he hoped one of the smaller satellites might be safer.

  “Are you looking for a bolt hole?” Samson asked.

  “We won’t need one,” Cardiff replied.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “They’ll ping back and we’ll go home.”

  Her confidence in CaliTech was probably misplaced, but he hoped she was right. “Focus on the mission.”

  The satellite city was constructed in the same way as the larger one. Sitting on top of the bronze platform were three uneven towers. Unlike the main city, this one was plain with no etchings. Fewer boxes sat out from the towers, giving it a functional look.

  “I wonder what it’s for,” Cardiff said as their ships circled the construction.

  Like the larger city there was no obvious entrance, only now he knew one might be hidden within the outside walls. “It looks a lot smaller and plainer.”

  “Maybe it’s an outhouse,” Samson said.

  “A toilet? You think this is a large alien toilet?” Cardiff asked sounding disgusted.

  “Maybe we can flush ourselves back home.”

  “You’re an idiot,” Cardiff replied.

  Dropping his Scorpion to the surface of the bronze platform, Cardiff landed next to him. After he slid out of the hatch, the BattleDroid belonging to Samson fell into place by his side. He’d left two BattleDroids with Lace, taking only one. He was worried Lace might be attacked by whatever had built the city so he’d left his droid with them. Lace, Mex and his droid were on one Scorpion and the other droid was piloting the mule. It wasn’t a good plan, but it was all he could do while they looked for a better solution.

  “Open it,” he ordered the BattleDroid.

  Using a laser, it began cutting across the base of a box protruding from the surface. If he’d interpreted the layout of the city correctly then it would open to a tunnel. He wasn’t sure what the tunnels were used for, but they reminded him of air ducts and maybe that’s what they were. When the droid pushed the top of the box away, it revealed another tunnel much like the one in the main city.

  “Air duct?” Samson asked peering inside.

  “Why would you think they breathe? Critters don’t,” Cardiff replied.

  Suspecting she was itching for a fight, he said, “Focus, Cardiff.”

  Stepping across the small edge on the box, he allowed himself to fall down the hole. This one was shorter and he landed with a solid thump. Rolling quickly, the BattleDroid slammed onto
the floor next to him. It was followed by Cardiff and then Samson. Ignoring their cursing, he walked across to the grill. Behind it was a room much like the ones they’d seen in the main city, giving no hint as to the purpose of the site.

  After pushing the grill open, they were in a room about a hundred feet square. The walls were the same bronze only there were no boxes against them. Instead, a five-foot high ledge sat five feet out from the wall. Travelling along three walls, the ledge sat on sturdy legs as if it had once held something very heavy. In the middle of the room was a circular bronze colored tube.

  “This is different,” Samson said.

  Walking to the circular tube, he ran his gloved hand across it. “What do you think it is?”

  “Don’t ask him. He probably thinks it’s a toilet,” Cardiff replied.

  The BattleDroid was using wide sweeping movements, running its gloved metal hands across the tube. Samson was walking along the wall looking for a hidden exit. Without warning, he slipped outside of the room.

  “Samson?”

  “Woah.”

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sticking his head through the spot Samson had disappeared through, the next room was a large chamber. The floor, walls and ceiling were made of a black mesh. Walking across the floor, it echoed with the sound of his footsteps. The ceiling was thirty feet high. Circular in shape, he estimated it was fifty yards in diameter.

  “This isn’t like anything we’ve seen before. What do you think it is?” He asked.

  Cardiff had joined them inside of the chamber and she was looking around curiously. “It reminds me of an oven.”

  Dropping to his haunches, he ran his hand across the even holes in the floor. He supposed they could be used to release heat or gas. If that were the case then they were inside of a kitchen rather than a toilet.

  Shaking his head, he poked his gloved fingers into one of the holes. “I don’t think it’s an oven, not one that cooks food.”

  Samson was walking along the wall looking for another exit when he disappeared. Seeing he was gone, he stood up. “Let’s keep looking.”