The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2)

by McGregor, Andrew

  The screen cleared, the two Decimator warships surging into view as Admiral Shadian stared in awe, seeing the large long angular darkened grey ships widen on the screen as zoom was applied, the angular back markings and skull emblazoned on the hulls as lights flickered across the reinforced triangular windows. He grimaced as he recognised the main bridge window, angled with the sloping upper hull, the eight heavy guns below complimented by heavy laser turrets on the sides and upper and lower body. He swallowed as the surge of power could be clearly seen, sparks and static charging across the lower heavy guns as the warships emerged into range, the admiral’s head spinning round, ‘Full power to shields…they are preparing to fire!’

  He glanced back, seeing the turrets rotate, lights flashing and emerging from the side flight decks, the tiny bombers and fighters swooping out from their holds and forming into attack waves. The groups of small craft swept upwards, emerging above the warships before circling and proceeding in the direction of the space station, their crews wary to avoid the heavy gun blasts from below.

  Admiral Shadian pursed his lips, shaking his head, his eyes widening at the sheer number of small craft now flying towards them. The large forward guns shuddered backwards, long wide sheaths of laser energy shooting towards Alexion One, the commander backing from the screen, his breath drawn, ‘Brace for impact! I need that support from the planet surface now!’

  The red laser lights shot towards the stationary space station, the pulsing shrill alarms sounding on the many decks as personnel stared upwards. The main lights flashed red, a female computerised voice breaking through the alarm, ‘Incoming Attack! Brace! Brace! All personnel to battle stations! All personnel to battle stations!’

  The station shook, shuddering back and forth as the numerous laser blasts smashed against the shield walls. Admiral Shadian gritted his teeth as the laser droid shield disintegrated under the force of impact, the small robots shattering and debris ricocheting off the weakened force shield, his eyes moving to the approaching small craft, voice rising, ‘All laser turrets target their attacking ships…blow them out of space!’ He turned desperately to his first officer, the crew of the bridge staring at their commander wide eyed from the sheer force of impact. Swallowing hard, he glared at them, ‘Any crew members not on the turrets to the armoury, I want all personnel armed and ready to receive any Morgon boarding parties!’

  The station shuddered violently, a second blast of heavy laser cannons hitting the superstructure. Then the upper and lower turrets opened fire once more, blue and red lights pouring from the space station towards the incoming fighters and bombers. The mood lightened slightly, several flashes in the distance indicating enemy aircraft deploying flares and manoeuvring to avoid the high energy fire.

  The first officer shouted with excitement, staring at his screen, ‘Our fighters are rising from the planet atmosphere Sir!’ He grinned, running his hands across the surface of his screen, ‘Flashes from the surface Sir…the heavy guns of Morasat are engaging Admiral!’

  Admiral Shadian turned in triumph, staring round his bridge crew to give encouragement, ‘We may be outgunned, but let’s give them a party! Fire all torpedoes at lead warship!’ The operators glanced down, their hands running feverishly across panels as engines ignited in the firing tubes across the station, the missiles surging out into space and sweeping forward.

  Looking back at the screen, the admiral saw several of the Morgon fighters peel off to intercept the rising Trevakian silver vessels, their flight crews staring at their flashing instrument displays as laser blasts filled space, the torpedoes speeding towards their target as the warship turrets opened fire on the incoming missiles.

  The station shook again, the heavy guns firing out as the crew braced for impact, seeing the intense lights shooting towards them from the warships. The rapid screams of automatic flak guns placed around the station burst into life as the enemy bombers and remaining fighter escorts reached the outer range markers.

  On Zaxon B, the two massive guns roared, smoke billowing from their barrels as the long laser blasts sped into the heavens. The crews lowered their hands from their protective helmets, closing their mouths, knowing even in the heavy bunkers they could sustain physical damage. Placed to the north of Marasat, the two operational guns were part of four batteries planned as the ultimate defence for the expanding city, the other three as yet incomplete. Work had ceased on the other deep underground positions…positioned to the south, east and west…as the Morgon ships were first encountered, the enemy keen to remain at the far side of the planet once they realised the sheer power of the battery.

  Local troops and inhabitants stared upwards in awe and astonishment, the deafening bark of the enormous guns echoing across the low masonry buildings on the city outskirts and surrounding terrain. Some continued to stare in dumbfounded silence, now seeing the flashes in outer space through gaps in the clouds as the battle began to rage across the heavens. Occasionally able to see the distant lights of Alexion One, their demeanours became more serious as the rumours of heavy Morgon attacks on their main protection and contact with possible reinforcements became more widespread. Soon the word of two warships reached the ears of the residents, their hopes diminishing as realisation of a superior adversary became apparent.

  Trevakians and the local populace stepped from their buildings into the dull light to strain their eyes upwards, gossip and rumours spreading across the city as the two guns continued to fire, the power surges causing lights to flicker and dim to provide the ignitors to fuel cells powering the massive artillery weapons.

  The flight leader of Zaxon B’s second Viper squadron glanced around his cockpit, the proximity lights flashing as he grinned with adrenalin, his eyes narrowing in hatred as he saw the flashes against the outer hull of the space station above. A seasoned veteran, the thirty two year old had survived being shot down in a fierce air battle over Desexus, a planet on the other side of the galaxy. Transferred through the space station portal, he had slowly and painfully recovered from his severe burns and broken limbs under tender care on the planet’s surface. Participating in, and then upon recovery from his injuries, leading the training of the newly formed squadron of raw recruits sent to the planet for experience and their initial flight hours.

  Flight Lieutenant Anjara’s jaw hardened as he thought of the pilots around him, six brave young men and women, some of the finest volunteers of his planet, their youthful faces flushed with excitement as he had initially greeted them four months previously. The experience of their first few joint fighter flying lessons with him sat in the twin seater jet before their initial nervous lone flight, his own emotions raised to almost breaking point as they individually mastered each and every manoeuvre he had trained. The control of their new frontline fighters explained in almost tedious detail in the classroom before they took to the skies and space over the city and planet below. The experienced trainer had stretched each individual’s understanding to the limit, continuously pushing them to learn and understand the strategy of their survival in the seat of one of the most formidable single spacecraft in existence.

  His brown eyes blinked with emotion as the thoughts of what the youngsters must be experiencing around him filled his mind, a tear spilling down his scorched and scarred face as the short distance covert fighter circuit radio burbled in his ear, ‘Flight Leader One, I am assuming outer wing…awaiting your mark on target!’

  Flight Lieutenant Anjara swallowed hard, the voice in his ear tense but professional. Clearing his throat, he replied, controlling and forcing his tone, ‘Affirmative Number Two…we engage on my mark…’ He thrust his controls forward, the seven silver jets streaking across the sky just below the atmospheric edge as his recruits smiled with excitement, the Morgon forces below unable to engage the high altitude craft. Above them, the remaining squadrons of Trevakian star fighters swooped to engage the oncoming enemy craft, outnumbered…but determined.

  Alexion One shook violently again, the massive sp
ace station suffering several direct hits from the massive warship guns. Admiral Shadian relinquished his steadying grasp on the console table, staring defiantly at the multiple images on the large screen, static surging across a couple, ‘Damage report?’ He watched as explosions across the bows of the lead warship from the heavy gun battery on the planet below as they were joined with the laser blasts from the station’s heavy upper turrets, scorch marks appearing on the Morgon vessel’s hull as he sighed in frustration, ‘We are taking too long to break through their shields…they are just too strong!’

  Fighter bombers swept past the cameras, rockets and proximity bombs impacting against the space station hull, the outer corridors rocking as jets of steam poured into the pressurised areas. Station personnel fled from the leaks, their panic spreading as other crew members emerged in full combat uniform, ordering them to proceed to the armoury. Engineering crews raced forward, their sealant emergency equipment spraying the affected areas and blocking any gaps, supervisors typing emergency codes into their mobile consoles to alert the bridge of potential breaches or structural weaknesses, the main computer AI system confirming or adjusting to suspicions.

  The first officer grimaced, looking up, ‘We are now taking damage Sir…shields eroded on some upper and lower levels…it is only a matter of time before our hull is breached. We have lost several flak cannons and one of the upper turrets is damaged…but is still firing!’ He glanced back down onto his screen, his eyes widening in horror, ‘They seem able to slowly regenerate damage to their forward protective shields…we have no such technology!’

  The admiral winced, glancing across the images, several shaking, two blurred with static lines, ‘Limited crews with protective clothing on the exposed levels…have we any news on the bombers from the surface?’

  The first officer shook his head, staring at the sensor readings, ‘Morgon vessel launching multiple occupant vessels…’ He looked up with alarm, ‘Admiral…those are boarding craft, probably with shock troops!’

  Flight Lieutenant Anjara checked the flashing graphic panels below him in the cockpit, the battle in space above them escalating as his star fighter wing swept forward. He glanced upwards through the darkened cockpit windows, seeing the stars sparkle in deep black space, his heart surging upon once again realising his love of the sights. His black helmet with silver stripes moved instinctively from side to side, checking for an approaching enemy, the sleek craft’s radar providing confusing readings due to the volume of fighters above.

  The covert radio channel burbled in his ear, the sound startling him, ‘Flight Leader One, we have multiple readings ahead…sixty clicks…’

  The flight leader’s eyes widened, his tongue running across his scarred lips as his jaw tightened, ‘Proceed on that heading…then we bounce upwards…the warships are our main targets!’

  The radio burbled again, six voices responding in unison with rising adrenalin, their commander nodding as he pushed the stick before him further, his voice grim with determination, ‘Follow your training, we bank unpredictably…’ He swallowed, wary this would be the trainees initial contact with a concentrated enemy, ‘Shoot to kill only…good luck all…’ He hesitated, smiling, ‘Your time is now!’

  The seven silver star fighters swept forward, streams of vapour trailing behind them as they accelerated towards their unsuspecting targets in the upper atmosphere.

  Chapter Four: Blue Leopards and Dragons

  Morgon infantry surged up the sloped track alongside the low cliff walls, their polished camouflaged and black body armour glinting as snowflakes swirled around their tall bodies. Silakian infantry followed in their wake, carrying heavy equipment and weapons destined for the raised ground ahead, the laser and acid heavy gun parts ready to be assembled once the leading soldiers had cleared the defensive positions.

  Smoke billowed over the top of the low cliff above, ammunition cracking as it detonated from the numerous fires and burning trenches. Thumps in the distance indicated the last incoming artillery, the Morgon commanders shrieking at their soldiers to prepare for the oncoming infantry attack, urging their troops forward as they neared the top of the rise, their armoured bodies lowering instinctively.

  The shells whisked and screamed overhead, trails of green wisping smoke following in the projectiles wake as the acid ordinance fell to earth above, a wall of flame rising into the air as explosions ripped across the landscape. Reaching the summit, the shock troops ducked low behind the last rises in the terrain, hearing screams echo across the defensive positions above as bodies were tossed into the air. Toxic green slime zipped through the air, sticking to any body armour that it splattered against, the thick liquid immediately beginning to consume anything it came into contact with.

  Muffled shouts filled the air as soldiers desperately attempted to remove smouldering body armour before the slime ate through and began to consume flesh. A couple of the reserve troops dropped their weapons, scrambling from the defensive trenches and running in panic to the rear, South Korean marines with their American counterparts screaming at the remainder to stay in their positions and make ready for the oncoming assault.

  The majority of Heathrow battalion volunteers and other troops stood their ground, some whimpering in terror but the remainder grim faced, their ears ringing from the heavy barrage, but cold determination in their eyes. The occasional explosion and crack of ammunition spread across the terrain, several heads cautiously rising above the trench walls in curiosity as an ominous silence fell. The sight that met their wide eyes was ominous, black smoke curling into the air, broken, bloodied body parts and shattered equipment lying across the scorched earth before their positions.

  Muffled dull thuds filled the air, the Trevakian marines wincing as they realised the instinctive sound of mortars firing from below the rise, the elevation chosen to drop deadly ordinance directly into the devastated trenches and defensive positions. Shouts of alarm filled the air, the inexperienced volunteer battalion soldiers that had risen to stare out dragged back down into cover as projectiles rose high into the sky above, the small shells twisting and turning before beginning their gruesome descent.

  As the mortar shells fell to the scorched earth, the shrieks of Morgon commanders spurred their armoured troops forward, the lean bodies rising over the last obstructions to sweep out across the defences, smoke grenades puffing across the terrain before them. Shrieks of hatred filled the air as explosions rocked the trenches, the defenders ducking down in cover as several hundred Morgons poured forward towards them.

  In the command bunker, Jozefina stared in awe at the holographic infantry figures emerging across the terrain, the surviving ground sensors transmitting flickering images back to the officers looking at the computerised table below. The automated machinery in the centre room hummed louder as power surged to the defensive turrets and traps, the Trevakian Major nodding to his captain, the officer running his hand across the controls on the side of the desk.

  Through the billowing smoke, tiny blue engagement lights on the embedded turrets flashed as their motors activated, the cylinder defensive weapons running slowly within their mountings as they rose. The half a metre circumference alloy posts rose from the earth, their frames winding as they extended upwards, power surging through the interior weaponry. From the top of the heavily armoured cylinders the static sparked, the upper gun turret emerging and barrel extending outwards automatically. The cylinders hummed loudly as the charge increased to the weapons, several nearby ducking defenders eyes widening as the air seemed to crackle around them.

  Behind the first cylinders, three larger higher powered laser guns nearer to the command bunker began to extend quickly from the scorched earth, the black gleaming smooth alloy structures rising at a higher speed tower over the smaller guns.

  The Morgons surged across the open ground, nearing the trenches as Trevakian marines rose up, the assault rifle muzzles flashing to meet the oncoming enemy infantry. Bullets ricocheted off the armoured attacker
s, a couple collapsing backwards as the projectiles swept between or through dense armour at close range. Next to the Trevakians, the helmets of cautious reserve soldiers rose, weapons thrust over the trench walls as automatic fire swept across the defensive line. The inexperienced troops fired with gritted teeth and tear filled eyes of fear, the oncoming infantry seeming endless in number as shrieks filled the landscape on the upper heights.

  The dull overcast natural light was overwhelmed by bright muzzle flashes as the Morgons opened fire, advancing steadily towards the defenders as several tossed grenades fell in either direction. Explosions ripped through the shroud of smoke, several screams echoing across the billowing clouds as the muzzle flashes continued, the lead Morgons reaching the outer trenches.

  In the command bunker Major Hecklan stepped back, seeing the numerous flickering hologram soldiers surge towards the trenches, his jaw tensing as he turned to stare defiantly at the comms desk, ‘Arm them now!’ The blue uniformed officer’s fingers tapped the flat surface before him, a smile of triumphant excitement sweeping across his face.

  Lieutenant Malikkas smashed a fist to his chest armour, nodding to the major, ‘Permission to lead the counterattack Sir?’

  The major nodded grimly, ‘Tear them apart!’ The Herrakian spun round, his boots squealing as he advanced towards the doors, Jozefina’s eyes widening as Nao nudged her, his voice low, ‘I think we need to go now…’

  Alarms sounded in the helmets of the defenders, a shrill regular beep alerting the soldiers to the defensive deployment measures, their visors glowing red as numerous dots filled their visions. Rees fell backwards, the Trevakian next him dragging him down as the others ducked, the young Heathrow volunteer staring in shock at the marine next to him, ‘What the f….?’