“Come on, you can ride it for a bit more,” Lifendi said, coaxing power from unused shields to areas that were getting a pounding. When the shields dropped then all of the weapons now firing into the Kalu would be open to attack.
The leading Kalu forces were now using their bomb powered acceleration to slow and turn themselves. The shields had lasted longer than they hoped, their slowing made them open for more hits, something that the fresh gunnery crews jumped on.
The Syndicate fleet was throwing everything they could at the Kalu. They were disorganized, panicked and running in any direction they thought would give them the biggest chance of surviving but not running into the Free Fleet's barricading Jumpships.
“The Kalu are broadcasting on all channels,” Communications said.
“Put it on,” Lifendi said
“I am Edvasho, war leader of the Kalu clans. I fought in the great teaching war against the Union. I returned to my systems to raise an army in order to press the second teaching war onto the Union. You, the Syndicate denied me my war. You will be but a marker in our clan stories. Only talked about as the defeated ones. You will go with the silent clans, only honoured by having being killed by the Kalu. Pray your clans accept your weakness into their home.” The comms channel went dead, the comms officer had left the incoming open transmission channel open.
“Well now we know what we're up against,” Lifendi said, forcing his dread away. “Get to work, or let his words become truth, those are your options!”
***
Felix watched the battle, his eyes straining at the screen as he and his development staff took note of how the Jump fighter's acted and how effective the weapons were.
Felix pulled out his Data pad, he had one hell of an idea, if it worked, well it would be something to behold. Now he just needed a ship, one that was in decent condition and not being used by anyone.
He tapped a bud in his ear.
“Hello this is Onur, who is this?” The comms officer said.
“I would like to talk to Cheerleader, its Felix,” he said.
“Transferring you,” Onur said, no hesitation in their voice as they stopped searching for Felix though comms channels.
“Felix?” Cheerleader said, sounding quite busy.
“I would really like if you got that carrier intact, and possibly sent my way,” Felix said.
“We haven't even taken it yet,” Cheerleader pointed out.
“I know, but I have faith,” Felix said, making it sound as if it was a done thing.
“Of course you do. If we get it then your people best be picking it up. I'm all used up,” Cheerleader said.
“I'll have someone get it,” Felix said.
“Good enough for me, you best have some damned good use for it,” Cheerleader said.
“Oh, it's going to change a few things,” Felix said.
“Mysterious as always,” Cheerleader said, amused.
“Of course, hidden space base, maniacal engineer with too many gadgets and not enough room. I'm like a bond villain, or Q? Or was it M?” Felix tapped his chin in thought.
“I'll let you figure that one out. I'll talk to you later, probably when you have another bizarre request,” Cheerleader said.
“Byeee,” Felix said, noticing that the development team was looking at him.
“Well I think it's about time that we got started with giving the Jump fighter a platform capable of servicing them. Plus I think those laser missiles might need to get revisited.”
There was a few grumbles, though it was hard to stay annoyed with Felix for long, he was an infectious ball of energy.
***
Cheerleader had watched as the Kalu smashed into Rosho. Both sides had turned to pounding one another. It was vicious fighting, Star Destroyers and Warriors firing their missiles, lasers made shields disintergrate under their constant pounding. Nuclear explosions lit the black of space, ships buckled and disintegrated. Syndicate ships were chased down by Fighters, swarmed till they were defenceless, Star Warriors charged in, smashing into the armored hulls and charging the Syndicate personnel left alive.
The Jump fighter's had done spectacularly, they had turned most of the Syndicate forces around and captured a bunch more. She had ordered that they let Fairgate run, she didn't want the woman to die before punishment was rendered on to her.
“Fairgate's carrier has created a wormhole, they're jumping,” Jorvut said, hooked into the sensor platforms and Jump fighter in Rosho system through the FTL relays.
“Good,” Cheerleader said, she wouldn't have to wait long to see where Fairgate came from. “Are they using capacitors?”
“By build-up speed it is the only possibility,” Jorvut said, risking a pleased look to Cheerleader.
“Let's not get too confident. We still need to board and clear that carrier,” Cheerleader said, Onur turned to her expectantly.
“Yes?” Cheerleader asked, looking to him.
“Commander Boot's forces have landed on the Syndicate ships, there hasn't been any trouble yet,” Onur said.
“Carrier has completed transit,” Jorvut said.
All eyes were on the main screen as communications commanders and sensor commanders worked across the fleet to find where the carrier had gone, losing Lady Fairgate was not an option.
“We've got her!” Jorvut said, not looking up. “Sending co-ordinates. She's coming in right through the direct jump point. Commander Kelu is closing in.”
“Helm, best speed please, Onur I want to have the fleet that is further than two light minutes moved back into formation. Werv can you make sure they're to be ready to assist Boot or us at a moment's notice. Onur could you get me Commander Smith?”
“He's on your personal channel,” Onur said, hands moving across his workstation as he completed her orders.
“Ma'am?” Smith said in her ear.
“I want that carrier intact, but if it makes a move to be aggressive I want you to cut it down,” Cheerleader said.
“Understood,” Smith said, sounding oddly serious.
Cheerleader didn't have time to dwell on it as she made sure she was on an open channel before talking.
“This is Ship Commander Cheerleader to the carrier Elshurvum. Cut your engines, power down your weapons and shields, and prepare to be boarded. Fail to do this and my forces will tear the carrier apart. You will be treated to a fair trial.”
***
Marhtu raced down the corridor his Kaaorv's around him as that damned message blared in every tongue in existence.
“Get out of the way!” He barked as slaves walked into the path of the Kaaorv. They parted, bowing.
There was a wet sound. Marhtu looked in confusion. One of the slaves wasn't bowing anymore, instead its hand and the blade in it were coming out of one of his Kaaorv's soft tissues. The single strike had killed them instantly. That slave, wearing perfect white was now covered in blackish-blue blood as it turned to Marhtu. Nothing registered in its eyes as it walked forward.
The Kaaorvs turned to the slave, in shock. It was then that Marhtu realized how he had thought of Slaves as fixtures instead of possible threats. There were slaves up and down the hallway now. They stepped away from where they were made to stand for many years. They grabbed the Kaaorvs, no emotions passing over their features as they killed their torturers.
Marhtu felt a coldness fill him. He dwelt on others pain, these creatures he had created felt nothing. He pulled out a blaster, shooting them as they walked at him. It clicked empty, one reached him, putting a blade to his head.
It was a large specimen, probably used for manual labour, Marhtu had no doubt that it could easily embed the blade into his head.
It didn't make any noise, looking to its fellow slaves. With nothing more than looks they seemed to have a conversation, slaves dispersed. They had lived in silence for so long that they had figured out a way to talk without words.
The big slave put its blade under its clothes and picked Marhtu up with one hand.<
br />
“What are you...?” Marhtu's head hit a wall, the slave still walking, as Marhtu looked around groggily, pain and fear filled him.
He was taken into the slave holding pens, no slaves were there anymore. Syndicate personnel sat in the cages, some looked fine. Others were roughed up. Everyone was separated into groups. Slaves walked around, these ones wearing armor and holding rifles.
A cage opened, the big creature dropped Marhtu in it. Without pause it turned and left. A slave passed it a rifle, it gave them a look before it kept going.
The slave that gave the big one a rifle looked amused as it pulled another rifle off of its back.
More of the crew were thrown into cages. Some were walked in.
None of them were Lady Fairgate.
Then there was some measure of time when no one else was brought in and the slaves rotated through their positions.
Then there was the sound of powered armor, a lot of it.
The slaves put down their guns and stepped away, their appendages raised and visible. Powered armor with the markings of the Free Fleet entered the caged area. Marhtu wouldn't have forgotten the group he'd vowed revenge on.
They moved to the slaves, their weapons lowered after a few minutes. A commando went to them, opening their helmet.
“You're free now,” it said, its speakers saying the same thing in multiple languages.
The slaves broke down, expressing relief or a myriad of emotions.
“We will take over watching the prisoners, we have room on our ships so you can get sorted out. We have a ship that will take you wherever you want. You can go home. If at any time you need help, the Free Fleet will be there for you. Commander Cheerleader says she will personally see to it.”
Amazingly it seemed that all of the slaves understood what was going on.
They had been listening to more than Marhtu had ever realized.
***
“Salchar,” Shreesht said. I was up, my hand grabbing for my rail gun as I looked to him. There wasn't alarm but excitement on his face.
Krom's injuries took a lot out of him. He'd been fighting without an arm and half a leg for a while now. The replacements were being grown in a vat but it would be another week before he could get them reattached, as such he was in medical getting worked over.
There was a long list of people needing to get their limbs put back on. Even without our actual limbs, the neural implnats kept our powered armor moving. ‘Phantom limbs’ had a whole new meaning with the Free Fleet.
“What?” I asked, letting out a breath as I let my adrenaline get to normal levels.
“Come to the Bridge. Cheerleader has something to show you,” Shreesht said, looking rather pleased.
I followed him, knowing he wouldn't tell me what the hell was going on.
Everyone seemed oddly happy.
I got on a lift punching in the bridge as I sipped on my water tube, it was empty again. I logged a reminder on my visor as I shifted in my armor. I smelled rank, my clothes were a greasy second layer, my face was rough with the start of a beard and I could feel the greasiness of my skin.
Even as tired and zombie as I was, I still wanted a damn shower.
Or at least a wet-nap.
I should buy stocks in wet-naps, not just for babies, I thought getting a huff of humour out of me.
I stomped after Shreesht who walked quickly to the Destroyer's bridge. I got there a few moments later.
“Commander!” The ship commander looked much too happy at whatever damn time it was.
“What is so damned exciting?” I said over my speakers.
“We have captured Lady Fairgate and Marhtu,” the ship commander said, everyone grins and smiles. I pulled off my helmet, my eyes cold and hungry.
“Show me,” I said, eyes darting away from me as I leaned on a railing.
There was a short video of Lady Fairgate in an opulent looking room with one wall filled with vid screens, Commandos around her as she looked at them, her eyes wide.
“We must leave. They are coming. They will get us all! Don't you get it!?” She yelled, the video cutting to a cage. It was on a shoulder mounted camera, the commando looked down at the creature in the cage. It was Marhtu, different colors of blood were spattered across his clothes. It changed to Cheerleader.
“Today the Kalu known as Edvasho and his sub-leader Orshpa have engaged the Syndicate at Rosho station. The station's shields are still up at the time of this transmission. One carrier was able to escape the system. The carrier Elshurvum, onboard was Lady Fairgate and Marhtu. Both are now in our custody,” Cheerleader said, matter-of-factly.
I grabbed my data pad, pulling up reports, seeing that the top priority message was from Rick. He outlined what had happened at Rosho.
“Get me Cheerleader,” I said, looking over my other urgent reports from Rick.
“She's ready,” the communications commander said after a few minutes, FTL relays crossing light years passed my message.
She appeared on the main screen.
“Cheerleader,” I said, looking up from my data pad.
“Commander?” She said professionally.
“Continue your mission to watch over the Rosho hostilities. Send Lady Fairgate to Parnmal to be put on trial and her sentence carried out,” I said.
“I understand Commander, and Marhtu?” She sounded pained asking me about him.
“Well I do think that the people of Daestramus have quite an able court system,” I said, something dark that had been made in those cells with the Kaaorv making its way to the surface before I pushed it back down again.
“Understood,” Cheerleader said.
I saw the request by Felix, if he wanted Elshurvum then by all means he could have it. He had more than proved that he and his team were able to make some damned useful things out of what the Free Fleet could find.
I accepted it on my data pad, sending it to Cheerleader.
“In your report you also mentioned a mass of slaves that were used to running the ship and took it over when they found out your ships were closing in...”
“I am looking into the matter personally,” Cheerleader said, cutting me off.
“Very well,” I said, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. Lady Fairgate and Marhtu were secured, Rosho was engaged with the Kalu. It pulled some pressure off of Heija, with the constant incoming forces from Xentar we wouldn't see that relief until all of the Kalu were dead, or we were.
It's about time I thought of a strategy to get us the hell off this planet.
“Good work Cheerleader. Your fleets are going to be hard pressed in the coming weeks, but these kinds of victories are damned good news.” I flashed a smile, Cheerleader flashing one back. She might try to be looking professional, but under that I knew she was as damned quirky as ever.
***
Cheerleader marched through Elshurvum, Commandos nodded and tapped their fingers to their heads as she passed through. Their battle scarred and grime covered powered armors were at odds with the pristine innards of Elshurvum.
The Free Fleet was created at a time of necessity, they weren't ones to care about frills and making themselves look pretty. Their armor worked as if it was brand new, so what if it wasn't polished, and had a scar of a near-misses.
Cheerleader looked over the slaves that were still on board, they were giving the Commandos and transferred prize crew operating the ship, as much information as possible. The intelligence department said that they had been extremely useful in unravelling many of the Syndicate and Lady Fairgat’s secrets. The commander had been rather excited about something the ex-slaves had said.
“I'm not willing to say it for certain, we are looking to confirm now,” Cheerleader remembered the intelligence commander said. It had not satisfied Cheerleader's curiosity, but her commander knew her job. Stepping all over her would be damned idiotic in Cheerleader's mind.
A satisfied smile grew on her face, she was looking forward to her next task, immensely. She k
new that there were billions of people that wished they were in her shoes, which was why she was using her armor's camera to record the entire thing.
She walked into the slave pens, her helmet snapped open as her eyes latched onto Marhtu and Fairgate, the latter still in a near catatonic state.
Cheerleader looked to everyone in the cages. Lady Fairgate, her crew as well as Marhtu and his professional torturers.
“You will all be processed through Parnmal, your crimes judged and the resulting sentences handed out,” she said, her voice flat and emotionless. Not all of them had been monsters, something the slaves had attested for, or against. Lady Fairgate’s yells and screams had died down, a liberal use of tape and a gag had shut her up.
If looks could kill then Cheereleader would be dead numerous times over. Instead she looked over Lady Fairgate with cool indifference. She was no enemy commander anymore, just another prisoner with a court date.
Cheerleader's eyes focused on Marhtu.
“Marhtu Dashoval, your planet Daestramus did not sign a treaty with the Free Fleet before a warrant for your arrest was issued. As such, you will be transferred to Daestramus, they will judge you.” Cheerleader's eyes lingered on the ex-planetary governor. He’d been controlling his emotions to hiding them from his skin. Now those emotions rippled through his Slevaran hide.
Cheerleader turned off the camera, sending the recording to Onur, he would make sure it got out to every major news distributer.
“Prepare the prisoners for transport. A merchant freighter has arrived with holding cells and a crew to pilot the Elshurvum.” Cheerleader left out the fact that both the freighter had been sent before the ship was captured, and that the crew taking over piloting Elshurvum were all Min Hae's operatives.
Got the bitch that turned the Union into a backwater and enslaved three races. Now I have to win the war she used to gain power. Though, War station will be here soon. Then it’s just a waiting game as the Syndicate finally fights a true battle and the Kalu throw themselves against Rosho.
A thin smile appeared on her features, thinking of what the result of the Kalu-Syndicates battle would be, as she shut her helmet.
Free Fleet Box Set 2 Page 58