HADRON Incursion

by Stephen Arseneault

  Mace opened a general comm. “Everyone, listen up. We’re only a few minutes from where we think the Dellus warship will be. We could easily be off, and we might not find them for days… if at all. However, when we do find them, I want everyone prepped and ready to go in five minutes.

  “I’d like the raider crews to meet me in the dining hall. Everyone else just hang with your duty stations. If we can pull off a successful raid, we’ll be in control of the most powerful ship in this region of space. If we’re going to retake Earth, this raid is what will put us on the path to doing so. That is all.”

  Mace turned to face Jordan. “Mr. Crawford, the bridge and the Rogers are all yours. Once we come into contact, keep this ship at maximum distance. If we don’t make it, don’t come looking to do some kind of rescue. Take the Rogers back to a safe location and the rest of you can begin planning your next move. Best of luck to us all. We’re gonna need it.”

  Mace settled at the table with the other raiders. Johnny, Jane and Jenny, along with a Brit, a German, a Frenchman, and an Australian. Beverages were brought in from the kitchen.

  Tres set a tall mug in front of each of the crew. “I made these up special. It was the last of our brewed alcohol, along with a drink I call a plasma infusion. Only enough alcohol to take the edge off for the smaller of you all, ladies.

  “For the rest, well, I hope it’s to your taste. It should taste something like a mixture of chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, and salt, sweet but smooth, with that bit of a salty aftertaste. It’s not any of those things, but it’s as close as I could come. I hope you enjoy it.”

  Johnny took a swig. “Oh, Tres, you’ve outdone yourself. When we get home you need to figure out how to bottle this.”

  Tres replied, “Thanks. But I’ll have to assume it’s only so-so because it’s the best of what we have. And you haven’t had any real food or drink for months.”

  Jane took a sip. “I actually have to agree with my husband. You did good with this combo.”

  Tres grinned. “Thanks. I do the best with what we have.”

  The celebration went on for twenty minutes before Jordan Crawford came over the comm. “Mr. Hardy, you’ll need to report to your shuttles. We found the Dellus ship right where we thought it would be. And other than a couple cargo haulers, it looks to be alone.”

  Mace replied, “Thank you, Mr. Crawford. We should be ready in five.”

  Mace turned. “OK, let’s hustle up. It’s go time. I want everyone to run through their checklist twice before we lift out of here. And to all of you, I couldn’t have asked for finer crewmen. You are all true professionals. Now let’s go out there and kick some Dellus ass!”

  The shuttles were boarded, the checklists checked and rechecked. After a reaffirmation that the behemoth warship was still alone, Jordan Crawford gave the order to launch. Two modified Kaachi shuttles were quickly away.

  Jenny Taub piloted the first shuttle as Mace, Johnny, and Jane stood beside her. Johnny’s head was bent over to one side.

  “I hope this goes well. I got a crick in my neck after those practice sessions. Man’s not made to stand with his head like this.”

  Jane replied, “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have grown it so big then. Or maybe we should have taken Jasper along instead.”

  Johnny replied, “I didn’t see the old sack around anywhere. I would have expected him to see us off.”

  Jane shook her head. “Probably still sulking because he didn’t make the crew of the other shuttle.”

  Johnny laughed. “Yeah, when Mace said the selection of the other crew was a representation of all nationalities, I thought I was gonna bust a gut when he started in with ‘What about the elderly, shouldn’t they be represented, too?’”

  Mace replied, “He was pretty disappointed. I think he’s found his DSO job there on the Rogers to be a bit boring.”

  Jane nodded. “I can sympathize with him. The walls of the reactor room start closing in on you after a while. With his duty, though, at least he can get up and walk around the ship.”

  Jenny Taub said, “Boy, you three are just a bunch of Chatty-Kathys, aren’t you?”

  Mace smiled. “We’ve known each other for too long, that’s all.”

  Jenny replied, “I’m not actually complaining. It’s nice to hear normal conversations once in a while.”

  Mace said, “How we looking?”

  Jenny replied, “One minute to weapons range. The ride will get a bit hairier after that.”

  Jane said, “I’m surprised they haven’t made a move of some sort. You know, shown some kind of reaction.”

  Jenny shrugged. “Maybe they’re as arrogant as Gnaga said. Or maybe they’re just dumb. Either way, I’m happy to not be getting shot at.”

  A port cannon on the dreadnought flashed bright with plasma. An orange ball of searing light shot out toward the shuttle. Jenny rolled hard left, and the other shuttle hard right, as the plasma round passed between them.

  “This is shuttle two, splitting off to our designated target now. Good luck to us all.”

  A second ball of plasma leaped from the port cannon, this time seeking shuttle two. A quick dodge had the plasma charge zipping harmlessly by.

  Jenny said, “They have a two-second recharge time.”

  A hard left spiral saw another round slip past shuttle one and her crew.

  Johnny winced. “I’m gonna have to close my eyes. With my head bent and the display spinning with those maneuvers, I’m starting to feel nauseous.”

  Jane laughed. “Don’t be getting sick on us. We don’t have any barf bags on this flight. And you don’t want to be puking in your helmet.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  “Well, you’re just going to have to man-up for the next eight minutes.”

  Jenny switched the cockpit display to lock into a single orientation. The growing image of the Dellus warship would now remain aligned on the screen. As the shuttle rolled and pitched, the image on the display remained stable.

  Johnny said, “Thanks for that. Much better.”

  As the shuttles drew closer, Jenny said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching a weather front that will possibly have some turbulence associated with it. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.”

  Johnny took a deep breath.

  Jane took his arm. “We’ve got three minutes to go. Just shut your eyes and dream about fishing or something.”

  The first round to make contact was a partial hit. The shuttle gave off the slightest of vibrations.

  Jenny said. “I can’t dodge them anymore. Not enough time to react. From here on in, we’ll just have to take our pounding.”

  With each new plasma round, the shuttle shook with an increased ferocity. With just under a minute to go, the first fully direct hit sent a jarring jolt to the crew. Johnny lost his grip on a rail, slamming forward into the console screen, before rocking back into the others. Mace grabbed his forearm as they steadied for the next strike.

  The next round formed on the cannon emitter and Jenny yelled, “Grab what you can!”

  Johnny slammed into the forward wall. “Maybe you’re right. I should have let Jasper come instead.”

  Jane yelled, “Here! Take this handle! I’ll hold on to Mace!”

  Johnny reached out just as the next round impacted the small shuttle. Again he lurched forward and again slammed hard into the forward wall and display screen. On the bounce back, he grabbed the handle. For the remaining dozen hard strikes, the crew of shuttle one held themselves in position.

  Jenny turned as she slowed, angling the forward section of the shuttle toward the still firing plasma cannon. The shuttle slid to a rest just inside firing range.

  Jenny let out a sigh. “We’re in! Cutters, you’re up!”

  Johnny turned toward the lowering ramp as Jane pushed him forward. “Wait! I’m caught! My AR strap is wrapped around that handle!”

  Jane scowled. “How on earth did you do that?”

  John
ny chuckled as he pulled it free. “‘Cause we’re not on Earth.”

  Two long steps later, Johnny was on the ramp. Pulling a cutting torch from its stowed position, Jane took the torch as she hustled by, her magnetic boots keeping her on the ramp. A short leap had her standing on the hull of the Dellus warship. A bright flash saw the plasma cutter ripping into the plate metal. Mace was quickly at her side.

  Jane yelled, “Thirty seconds! I’m getting outgassing!”

  Johnny said, “Team two is on the hull and cutting!”

  Jenny stepped onto the ramp. “Grappling has us locked on. If they decide to run, we’re going with them.”

  Johnny opened a comm to the other team. “How you guys getting along?”

  A reply came back. “Cutters are running now. You have as bumpy a ride as we did?”

  Johnny nodded. “And then some. Lost my grip and got tossed around a bit. We should be in any second now.”

  The voice replied, “Us, too. Will give status again once we’re inside.”

  Jane said, “Cut is complete.”

  Mace pushed against the plate. “It’s not moving. Must be connected to something on the other side. Hang on.”

  Mace took his torch, cutting away a small section of plate, punching it with his fist to break it fully free. “Great. We have a wall section right in the middle. Jane, get that cutter over here.

  The second team came over the comm. “We’re inside! Some kind of storage room. We set several crates afire with the torches. Can barely see, although it’s clearing out through the hole. Door to outside is locked and sealed. Bio scan says there are others on the others side. Looks like the welcoming committee has arrived.”

  Jane finished her cut. “I’m hitting another beam. I can’t cut this hole any bigger.”

  Johnny shook his head. “I can’t fit through there. Cut another one.”

  Jane huffed as Mace slipped through the cutout. “Johnny Tretcher, I’m putting you on a diet when we get back.”

  Johnny laughed. “It’s not me, it’s this battlesuit and the exosuit.”

  A jolt to the back sent panic down Johnny’s spine.

  “Fat man can’t get inside?”

  Jane turned. “Jasper? Where’d you come from?”

  “I stowed away on the outer hull.”

  Johnny returned a look of disbelief. “How? We must have taken twenty-five straight-on plasma hits.”

  Jasper shrugged. “I found myself a cubbyhole on the back and held on for dear life. I tell ya, that was almost too much excitement for me. I used to love riding the coasters over at Williamsburg. That shuttle ride didn’t disappoint.”

  Johnny shook his head. “You are absolutely whacked out of your skull, old man.”

  Jasper laughed. “Me? I think you mean we! We’re all standing here on the outer hull of an alien warship. How am I any crazier than you?”

  Mace yelled over the comm. “Jane! Get that cutter in here. Open a hole big enough for Johnny while I cut through to the next room!”

  Jane slipped through the hole, followed by Jenny and then Jasper, who waggled his tongue and crossed his eyes as he passed his comedic nemesis. Johnny couldn’t help let out a chuckle.

  Jenny pulled up an image above her arm pad. “We have two rooms beyond that wall before we hit a hallway. Looks like they house mechanicals. Might be the environmental systems for this section.”

  Mace said, “Once through this wall, we’ll seal off this room.”

  “I tried to get a sample from that outgassing,” said Jenny. “Atmosphere definitely has oxygen, but I couldn’t get any consistent readings. When we get through to this next room and get it sealed off, we should be able to tell if it’s breathable.”

  Mace said, “We all keep our helmets on.”

  Johnny said, “Not like we’re looking to breathe the air in here anyway.”

  Jenny replied, “Maybe not at this moment. If our plan is to fly this ship for any length of time, we’re gonna need it. And besides, our suit oxygen will last a lot longer if there’s an external source to feed on.”

  “Cut is complete,” said Jane. “Jasper, help me knock this chunk out. Johnny, back away.”

  The boots from two exosuits impacted the cut hull plating, sending it spinning out into the black, cold void beyond.

  Johnny slipped through the hull. “Thanks!”

  Team two came over the comm. “Hole to the hallway is open! Got a bunch of little creatures standing just outside with swords.”

  The sound of gunfire could be heard over the comm. “They’re scattering!”

  Mace said, “Head this way until we’re through. We’re about three hundred meters apart. I want us to join up before we start taking this place down. Keep in close proximity in case there’s trouble.”

  “Roger that. We’ll start working our way back. The little guys are all backing away. Must be waiting on orders or something.”

  Mace said, “Don’t let them draw you into anything. Just keep heading this way.”

  Mace stood, kicking in the wall plate in front of him. “Let’s go! We need to seal up this wall!”

  The group moved through. The cut plate was lifted and tacked back in place. A larger cutout was made into another interior wall. That cut was then welded over the top of the original hole, sealing off the room from the other. It slowly began to fill with air.

  Jenny said, “Oxygen is 19 percent. Sulfur is high though. It isn’t gonna smell nice.”

  Mace said, “Switch your oxygen intake to filtered. We’ll save what we’ve got in our supplies.”

  With atmosphere restored, the door to the next room unlocked. A further door led to a hallway. The dozen or so sword-wielding creatures at the end of the hall disappeared around one corner as team two came around the other.

  Mace said, “No resistance?”

  The team lead replied, “They look terrified. Same as Mr. Klept predicted. And with their size, I feel like we’re attacking a ship full of children. I have to wonder if they’re all ready to surrender.”

  Mace nodded. “Let’s go find out.”

  Chapter 24

  *

  Jenny said, “Scans say this ship has twenty-five decks. We’re right in the middle on deck twelve. Looks like there’s a central hallway that runs from front to back. Half a dozen parallel halls to either side of that. We could start here, sweeping our way back, working our way all the way around in a clockwise manner.”

  Jasper scowled. “Or we could search out the bridge and take control from there.”

  Jenny replied, “And where do we get the location of the bridge from? If we follow a pattern, we’ll eventually find it. And we get a better feel for the complete layout of this ship while we’re at it.”

  Jasper nodded. “We could do that. Might take us a year given the size of this place. Or we could grab one of those little critters running around with their pig-stickers and beat the location out of ‘em.”

  Johnny laughed. “The old man’s a monster.”

  Jasper scowled. “They’re the ones who invaded our space. They’ve killed billions of humans through their actions. As far as I’m concerned, we could off the lot of ‘em right here and now.”

  Mace held up a hand. “I think Jasper has a point, at least with finding the bridge first. We take control, we can fly this rig elsewhere. That would give us time to bring over more people where we can clean this ship from top to bottom. We leave a single room unchecked and it risks us all.”

  Jane said, “So, grab one of the little guys? Maybe we could have planned this out a bit better.”

  Mace nodded. “Grab one of the little guys. And next time we’ll know better what it is we’re doing.”

  Jasper turned and sprinted toward the far corner.

  Johnny laughed as he ran after him. “Let’s go before he kills them all!”

  Johnny rounded the first corner to find Jasper walking toward him with a captive. “I think this one peed himself. Careful.”

  Th
e others caught up.

  Jasper set the captive down, pinning him against a wall with his knee as he pressed several buttons on his arm pad. “The translator should have him talking.”

  Jasper said, “Look, little man, we’re Humans. This ship now belongs to us. You cooperate, you live. Tell me a tale and I’ll snap your scrawny neck.”

  Johnny shook his head. “He would not have made it under the Geneva Convention.”

  Jasper pressed his knee. “Point toward the bridge of this ship. Where is it?”

  The creature pointed forward as its eyes darted about frantically.

  “And is it up or down from here?”

  The creature gulped in terror before pointing down.

  Jasper looked back. “See. That wasn’t so hard. Forward and down.”

  Jasper turned his AR15 toward the wall behind him, loosing a round into it. The small alien cowered.

  “Now, you’re gonna take us there. Lead the way. And keep in mind, you take us the wrong way, or into an ambush, and you’ll be the first one to get it.”

  Jasper spun the creature to face the forward direction. “Any shenanigans and I’ll put a cap in you right here in the center of your back. Understand?”

  The creature nodded as Jasper pushed him forward.

  As the group walked behind their new guide, Mace looked behind them. A dozen of the small creatures scurried around a far corner.

  Fifteen minutes later, they walked into the immense room that made up the bridge. A single chair sat in the middle, elevated above the others. Sitting in the chair was the alien admiral that had first asked for the Rogers to surrender. A gang of quivering crewmen stood around the base of the chair with their tiny swords drawn.

  A single creature stepped forward. “Halt! Lay down your weapons!”

  Jasper raised his AR15, firing a single round into the face shield of the small alien. The shield shattered, yellow blood splattering inside.

  Jasper stepped forward. “Who else wants some?”

  The admiral held up his hand. “Gentlemen, before any more blood is shed, let us discuss our options.”

  Mace replied, “Hatuk Gar, right? You’re the one who told us to surrender when you came through the wormhole.”