The image of hologram turned to glance at something behind him before looking back at her.
“You’re not fooling me, Trinity. I told you that I already have the scoop. You may be facing more than pirates. The Crosoian Federation is involved. If the bats decide to send in an armored division, none of you will stand a chance.”
“They won’t do that, at least not any time soon,” Trinity said, hoping she was telling the truth. “You’ve commanded armored units. You know as well as I that it takes weeks to get large units of UHAAVs with all of their support equipment and personnel loaded and transported on a starship. It’s only been two days since the Crosoian scout left. The commandant said Councilwoman Deluth was working with the Imperial High Council to get a destroyer squadron sent here. In the worst case scenario, we might have to hold off a battalion or so of pirates for a few days. Our battle computers calculate that our odds of doing so are good.” She gave what she hoped was a convincing smile. “We’ll be fine.”
“Why are you lying to him?” said Jennifer in their shared space. “None of the battle computers calculated that.”
“I told you to stay out of this,” Trinity told her battle computer. “He’s a cadet. He’s under enough pressure as it is. I don’t want to worry him. Now hush and let me talk.”
“Compliance.”
Trinity noticed a couple of new stress lines at the corner of Jerad’s eyes. The last two years in pre-Academy had taken a toll on him. She didn’t have to be reminded by anyone that he was the oldest cadet to ever make it through pre-Academy training. The few weeks his cohort had been in the Intergalactic Wizard Scout Academy as full-fledged cadets had been slightly easier than the pre-Academy, but from experience she knew the TAC officers wouldn’t let up on any of the cadets until they graduated four years from now. Her heart nearly broke as she thought about what the man she loved was going through just to spend the rest of his life with her.
Turning to glance at something behind him again, Jerad shouted, “Sir. I’ll be right there, Sir.” He looked back at her. “I have to go. Sergeant Ron wanted me to tell you that the commandant said Councilwoman Deluth is having difficulty convincing some of the councilmembers of how important it is to acquire the mining rights on Talos. The commandant said to tell you that he’s sure his wife can get you some relief, but it might take a couple of weeks. Apparently some of the councilmembers are hesitant to make any moves which the Crosoian Federation might construe as an act of war.”
Before she had time to think about what she was doing, Trinity balled her fist and smacked the top of the desk. “Are they crazy? The townspeople can’t hold out for more than a few days. There’s no way they can’t wait two weeks for relief. They need help now.”
A muffled yell sounded somewhere behind Jerad. He turned, snapped to attention, and saluted. “Sir, yes, Sir! On my way, Sir.”
With a final glance, Jerad’s hologram turned and winked. “Duty calls. Myers is about to have a conniption fit. Take care, Trinity. I love you.”
The hologram winked out.
“I love you too,” Trinity whispered. “I always will.”
Chapter 24 – Launch
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The scout stood on the bridge of the Crosoian flagship near the grand admiral. The admiral took a final sonar reading of the star chart before spreading her wings. The chatter on the bridge instantly hushed. This is what they’d all been waiting for.
Lowering her wings, the grand admiral bared her fangs and swiveled her ears at the bridge crew. “Our many years of preparation are over. The warships of our great invasion fleets will overwhelm the Empire’s defenses in the closest outposts before they know what has hit them. By the time the humans can organize a resistance, we will have consolidated in three of their districts. It will be a hard battle, but our master computer assures us that our victory is certain. We are Crosoians! We are destined to rule the galaxy!” She spread her wings to their fullest. “Launch the attack! Our destiny awaits us!”
The hundred plus Crosoian technicians on the bridge turned to their equipment.
The scout noticed blips of sonar readings on the star chart disappear from their staging areas and reappear in their strike zones as they completed their hyper-jumps. There were a lot of blips.
“It is the largest invasion fleet the galaxy has ever seen,” said Mykias in the scout’s shared space. “The master computer’s algorithm indicates a seventy-one percent probability of victory.”
Pride swelled in the scout’s chest. She’d always known that the Crosoians were the greatest fighters in the galaxy. Soon the humans and their allies would know it as well.
“The humans were lucky during our last war,” the scout told her fighting-computer. “If they had not shamed themselves by begging for help from other races the last time, we would have beaten them. This time their willingness to beg others for assistance has been taken into account. We will destroy them utterly. Our victory is assured.”
“Uh,” said Mykias. “Were you listening when I said the master computer calculated a seventy-one percent probability of victory? Logically speaking, assured would mean a one hundred per—”
“Silence, fool,” the scout hissed, forgetting to keep her words in her shared space.
The grand admiral spun and focused her ears on the scout. “Did you say something, Scout?”
Heat rose to the scout’s chest, turning it a light gray. “Sorry, Admiral. I was talking to my fighting-computer. She says our victory is assured.” The scout tightened her wings against her back. It did no good to antagonize the admiral without need. They were not on the best of terms as it was. “Now that the battle has started, I assume you will want me to lead an attack of one of our armored divisions to acquire the titanium mine on Talos. The titanium ore will be invaluable in our war eff—”
The grand admiral’s chest turned a dark gray. “You assume too much, Scout. The titanium ore is no longer your concern. All of our frontline troops are committed to the assault against the Empire. We have none to spare at the present. The forces of our allies are also fully committed. That includes the pathetic pirates we supplied with weapons. Still, I have been able to scrape up an armored regiment of the Baloreans along with one of their light cruisers and two of their destroyers. The pirate fleet is even now approaching Talos. They will take over the mine and hold it until we can spare reinforcements.”
“Only a regiment of pirates?” the scout hissed hardly believing her ears. “There are a half a dozen of the Empire’s wizard scouts on Talos. I cannot ensure victory if I lead the invasion with only a regiment of mere pirates to back me up. I need frontline Crosoian troops. Even then it will be a tough—”
“You will be leading nothing, Scout. The supreme leader has ordered you to be kept clear of the main battles.”
The grand admiral gave what the scout thought was a devious smile.
“You are to return home until further orders,” continued the admiral.
With her chest growing warm, the scout spread her wings. “I am a Crosoian scout. I will not sit on my wings while other bats are shedding their blood. I should be—”
The grand admiral’s chest grew so dark it was nearly black. “You will do as ordered, Scout, or I will have you court-martialed and ejected out of my flagship during the next trash dump. The supreme leader has ordered me to have you teleported back home. That is the end of it. Now be gone. I have a war to win.”
“Do what she says,” said Mykias in their shared space. “The supreme leader must have an important task for you. I highly advise that you not start a battle you cannot hope to win.”
Ever so slowly the scout lowered her wings. “As you command, Admiral. May I ask what you will do if the pirates are unable to defeat the wizard scouts and take over the mine?”
The grand admiral’s chest returned to a lighter shade of gray. She retracted her wings partway. “You may, Scout. As it so happens, I have an armored division of Crosoians’ finest that are b
eing held as a strategic reserve during the attack on the Empire’s district five. If the fighting there goes as expected, our reserve may not even have to unload from their ships. I will give the pirates a week to complete their task. If they have not acquired the mine in that time, I will order the armored division to Talos.” The grand admiral bared her teeth. “Even six wizard scouts, five of whom are disabled, cannot stand against the might of an entire Crosoian armored division. Do you agree, Scout?”
The scout sent out a radar ping in agreement.
No, she thought for once agreeing with her admiral. Not even wizard scouts could withstand that amount of firepower.
Chapter 25 – War
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Shouts and the sounds of engines starting woke Anna out of the best sleep she’d had in weeks. She’d been dreaming of her parents and happier times. For some reason, Connor had also been in her dreams. As she dug her way out of the fog of sleep, the flap of her small tent pulled back. Connor stuck his head in. The fact that his face was outlined against a dark sky by the lights along the mine’s rim told her it was still night.
“Anna, get up. The perimeter sensors the Donovan placed along the asteroid belt have detected nine ships approaching Talos. Everyone’s saying it’s the pirates. They’re coming.”
Sitting up and swinging her legs off the cot, Anna picked up her boots. She turned them over and gave them a hard tap against the metal frame of her cot to dislodge any creepy-crawlies that might’ve found a home in them against the night’s chill. When nothing fell out, she jammed her feet in the boots, grabbed her utility belt and helmet, and joined Connor outside her tent.
“Nine ships you say?” Anna said. “That’s a heck of a lot more than a battalion.”
Nodding his head, Connor handed her an extra plasma rifle he had strapped over his shoulder. “I passed by the armory truck on the way here and picked this up for you.” He pulled a phase pistol from his pants pocket along with two extra magazines and held them out. “You may need these if that Crosoian scout comes back. Trinity said the bat can shift into the void between dimensions. She said only phase energy can hurt it when it’s shifted.”
Snatching the pistol and rifle, Anna glanced around the floor of the pit mine. People were running from tent to tent and waking others up. Some townspeople were heading for the armory truck while acting sergeants yelled at those already with weapons to line up in formation. Only a few in the increasingly frantic crowd appeared to be listening. Anna had a sudden thought that if someone didn’t get control of the situation fast they were going to have a full-scale panic on their hands.
“Stop what you’re doing,” came the voice of Lieutenant Commander Janet Stevens over the loud speakers that were attached to the lights along the pit mine’s rim. “Everybody hold what you’re doing and listen up.”
Something in the special operations officer’s voice seemed to hit a note with the townspeople. The shouting stopped and everyone froze in place as they waited to hear what the Empire soldier would say. Anna found herself listening intently for Janet’s next words. She hoped they would be good ones.
“I want you to listen up,” continued the special operations soldier, “and I want you to listen good. This is why we’ve been training for the last couple of months. If everyone does their job, we’re going to come out of this in one piece. We’ve got a level five force field around the mine. As long as our transport ship continues to supply power to the generator, we’ll be safe behind our shield. A small fleet of pirate ships has jumped out of hyperspace near the asteroid belt. We estimate a regiment size force. We’ve still got a good two hours before anything happens, so stay calm. The Donovan will be taking off soon to give us space cover. What I need everyone to do now is get your gear and weapons and report to your duty stations. Wizard Scouts Ostaris and Mikala will be manning the Long Cats. Wizard Scout Trevor will be in the Leviathan. I need their crews loading on extra ammo as soon as I get done speaking.”
Janet’s voice paused. Anna looked around at the crowd. No one was moving.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” said Janet. “We’ve got a rough time ahead. The tele-network is being jammed. Just before we lost contact, we were hearing reports of large-scale fleets of Crosoians and their allies attacking the Empire’s outposts all along their border. That can only mean one thing; war. What that means for us here on Talos, we’re not sure yet. One thing we do know is that we have a pirate fleet headed our way. We need to hold them off and hope the Empire or one of the other federations sends help.”
A beam of light shot out of the top of the transport, displaying a giant holographic image of Janet. She was dressed in combat fatigues. Anna could make out Wizard Scouts Trinity, Yardis, and Peeta standing behind the special operations officer.
The image of Janet jerked a thumb at the wizard scouts behind her. “We’ve got six wizard scouts on our side. They are the greatest fighting force the galaxy has ever seen. We’ve got a force field to protect us, and we’ve got the Donovan for space cover. The pirates are the ones who should be worrying. If you all do like you’ve been trained, you will get out of this alive. Show the pirates no mercy. I guarantee you that they aren’t going to show you any.”
Janet’s hologram seemed to scan the crowd, taking in everyone at once. “I need Anna and Connor on the Donovan. The rest of you, gather your equipment, and get to your assigned stations.”
None of the crowd moved.
“Now!” said Janet’s image.
The crowd moved. They moved with a purpose. Anna glanced at Connor before taking off at a run for the Donovan. The boy matched her step for step. In less than a minute they were both running up the ramp of the survey ship. McAvtis met them in the cargo bay, waving them up the stairs to the upper level.
“They’re in the dining area,” shouted McAvtis. “Hurry. We’re taking off in ten minutes, and anyone still on the ship then will be going with us.”
Wasting no time, Anna led the way up the stairs and past the engine control room. She continued up the stairs to the upper deck. Once the dining area came in sight, she saw Janet and Trinity standing at the farthest end of the table. Standing behind Janet and Trinity were Old Man Ryan along with Wizard Scouts Peetra and Yardis. Trinity’s battle helmet was placed in the center of the table. A beam of light shone out the top of the battle helmet forming a meter-sized hologram of an Empire admiral. The admiral was an older man in a rumpled white uniform. He looked as if he’d been dragged out of bed. Other Empire soldiers could be seen hurriedly moving to and fro in the background. As Anna climbed up the last of the stairs, she heard the hologram of the admiral speak.
“It’s a full-scale offensive,” said the admiral. “The Crosioians are attacking all along the border. So are the Carsoloians. Even the Balorian pirates have banded with the bats and are attacking in force. We’re at war, and from what I can tell, it’s going to be like nothing we’ve ever fought before. I need both of you to get to a clear area on Talos so we can teleport you out. All leaves are canceled, and we’re mobilizing all reserves.”
“Sir,” said Trinity. “The pirates are on their way to Talos right now. We can’t leave. The townspeople will be—”
The admiral’s face turned dark. “This is not a debate. We need every wizard scout we can get our hands on to figure out what’s going on. We’re stripping the Academy of wizard scout instructors as we speak. The TAC officers will be replaced by disabled wizard scouts until we can get things back under control.” The admiral pointed at Janet. “And as for you, Commander, you’ll be taking charge of a special ops company. They’re already on their way to district five. We’ll teleport you there as soon as you’re clear of all that titanium dust.”
Anna noticed Janet glance at Trinity. When the wizard scout nodded her head, Janet looked back at the admiral.
“Sir,” said Janet. “If it’s an all-out war with the Crosoian Federation like you say, the Empire is going to need the titanium ore on Talos m
ore than ever. Trinity’s the only fully functional wizard scout here. I think it would be a mistake to—”
Red lights began blinking behind the admiral as a siren sounded. An orderly in a white naval uniform appeared in the hologram next to the admiral and thrust a helmet into the officer’s hands.
“Sir,” said the orderly. “We’ve got to get you to the bunker. We’ve got incoming.”
The hologram of the admiral took a final look at Janet. “I’m ordering both of you to get to a clear area. Once you’re out of the titanium contaminated area, have Wizard Scout Trinity’s battle computer request a teleport.” The admiral started to turn, but stopped midstride. He pointed a finger at Trinity and Janet. “That’s a direct order. If you even think about disobeying, I’ll have you both court-martialed and disintegrated for cowardice in the face of the enemy during a time of war.”
“Sir!” said the orderly tugging on the admiral’s arm. “We’ve got missiles inbound. You’ve got to go now.”
The hologram went blank.
Anna glanced over at Connor. He was standing next to her with mouth wide open. Wizard Scout Trinity caught her eye.
“You heard?” said Trinity stating it as a fact.
Anna nodded. “We heard.”
“Good,” said Trinity. “You’re the ones who asked us here. I wanted you to know what was going on.”
Anna approached the dining table and stood on the opposite side of Trinity and Janet. “What are you going to do?”
“Do?” said Trinity. “I’m going to fight. That’s what I came here to do.”
Connor stepped next to Anna.
“But that admiral said—,” started Connor.
“I’ll deal with that when the time comes,” said Trinity. She turned to look at Janet. “You can take off with Ryan on the Donovan. Once you’re clear of Talos, I’ll have Jennifer coordinate your teleport with the high command.”
Janet shook her head. “Don’t even try. I’ve stuck with you this long, I’m not leaving now.”
Last Stand on Talos Seven Page 18