Battle Beyond Earth - Box Set (Books 6-9)

by Nick S. Thomas

  “I don’t think there is a limit you can put on that anymore. Failure is not an option, Admiral.”

  “I wholeheartedly agree, and yet that is a decision we must all make. I know you once sacrificed yourself to save others, and it should have killed you. That is admirable, but I am not asking if you would be willing to sacrifice yourself, I know you would if it would mean defeating Bolormaa. I’m asking would you be willing to lose your comrades, this ship, this crew, your closest friends? How far would you go?”

  It was a sickening thought to have to dwell on, but Taylor understood he was right to ask it.

  “So, how far are you willing to go?”

  He wanted to say all the way, and yet it was obvious from his actions that it wouldn’t be true. He wouldn’t give up on Alita. He would not sacrifice her, and after giving up so much to get Jones back, he couldn’t imagine the prospect of letting him go either. As he looked back at the Captain, he noticed Rogers. A man who he’d warmed to quickly, and now had his back like Jones always had.

  “You see, it’s not so easy when it is your friends and your family that you have to give up, is it? You should have come to this fight with fighters you didn’t know.”

  “And I’d never have gotten this far if I did, Admiral.”

  “You’re saying the source of your strength are those you care about?”

  Taylor nodded slowly.

  “Yes, I know this all too well, and I am sure Bolormaa does, too. Of course she does, and that is why she has taken so much from you. She understands you more than you think, Colonel.”

  “No, I get it, and that’s what worries me more than anything. If she can see all of that, what else does she know, and what else can she predict?”

  “She isn’t all seeing if that is what you’re worried about. We’ve caught her off guard before, and we can do it again.”

  “You’re sure about that?”

  “Of course I am, and so should you be. And trust me, if she get’s aboard this vessel, she is not going to ever leave alive, I promise you that.”

  Taylor recoiled in shock, as there was clearly more going on than he realised.

  “Don’t keep things from me, Admiral.”

  “People say Bolormaa cannot be killed, or at least not by anything except that ridiculous spear. I call that nonsense. Let’s see her survive a one hundred megaton nuclear bomb,” he whispered in response.

  Taylor’s eyes widened at the prospect of it.

  “You have that aboard?”

  He nodded in response.

  “And you would be willing to…to set it off aboard this ship just to kill her?”

  “You’re damn right I would. The losses of those lives aboard would be insignificant compared to those lost with the continuation of this war. If you cannot succeed against her, then I will make sure she is finished. That is what I am willing to sacrifice to end this war, are you?”

  Taylor gulped as it dawned on him just how bad things were. He knew he was risking his own life, but not so many others. Their fate was all now tied to his, and still he wasn’t remotely confident that he could win.

  “Just do the best you can, Colonel, because either way, we end it here,” added Vega.

  The enemy fleet was well within range to see clearly now.

  “They will be in range in under a minute!” one of the crew declared.

  “Target the lead vessel, all weapons, prepare to fire!”

  CHAPTER 3

  “Here they come!”

  “All weapons, fire!”

  The floor-to-ceiling view screens flashed and lit up the floor space before Taylor. The opening salvo from the Resolution was truly spectacular, and along with fire from five others ships, the lead enemy vessel was blown apart in a few quick seconds. Part of the hull separated away, crashing into another of their ships as they flew in such tight order. The collision was dramatic and sliced the other ship in half as explosions erupted.

  The display of Naval gunnery was quite beyond anything Taylor had seen in a long time. For a moment he let himself believe they could win, although in the back of his mind he remembered that this was only the beginning. Another three enemy vessels were blown apart before finally they returned fire, and all hell broke loose.

  “They’ll be in range of the Ares Station in about twenty seconds,” Vega said to Taylor.

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “We must protect that station, but trust me, she is quite capable of handling a great deal all by herself,” said Nilsson, pointing to the view screens to their starboard side. Dozens of fighters were soaring out from the station every minute to join the battle. The station seemed to shimmer as it built up power and a canopy slid back to reveal a vast gun deck. The centre turret was the size of a three-storey building, with twin cannons that looked large enough to fire ship-sized shells.

  “You thought we had been idle these part few months, didn’t you?”

  Taylor nodded.

  “Ares 4 is now the most powerful weapons platform in the Alliance. If you are to make a stand anywhere, here is the place to be.”

  I’d rather be on Earth, though.

  They watched the vast tower rotate to train on its first prey. The tower pulsated with light, both of the guns firing with vast recoil and light pulses flashing from its barrels. The plasma-like shots looked more like something the Aranui would use, a lesser version of their beam weapons. The velocity was low, and one of the shots missed its target, an enemy destroyer. But the second hit home. It struck the nose of the ship, at the point of its heaviest armour, and yet seemed to melt through like an acid eating flesh. The heavy impact also knocked the ship off course. The nose was gone in just a few seconds, power lost soon after, and it floated away into the distance as a ruined hulk.

  “You see, Colonel, Bolormaa is not the only one with a few tricks up her sleeve. She may have initiated this battle, but we choose the ground that we fight on.”

  Taylor was studying the screens carefully as the battle raged on. Explosions lit up space even more than the gunfire did. Fighters zoomed between the ships, and then it struck him, not one shot had come their way.

  “They aren’t…” he began but trailed off as it began to dawn on him.

  “Not firing at us? No. I’d like to say it’s a relief, but it isn’t when you know the reason why,” replied Nilsson.

  “It’s not secret that this is where she’ll find you, and she wouldn’t want to risk any chance of you dying before she could do the job herself,” said Rogers.

  “You still think this is what it’s all about? That she wants to humiliate Taylor?” asked Jones.

  “I can’t see any other possibility now. Do you think her intentions could be any clearer?”

  “It’s not like she has shouted them from the rooftops, is it?”

  “She doesn’t have to. She sees me as the symbol of defiance.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  Taylor shrugged at Rogers’ question.

  “Sir, we’ve got contact twenty klicks to the port side!”

  They all turned to face this new threat only to see they were completely unprotected.

  “What the hell! We’re completely exposed!” Jones yelled.

  Even so, the Admiral looked as calm as ever. Jones couldn’t tell if he were in shock or that as far as he was concerned, things were going precisely to plan. There were twelve enemy warships en route, and they were descending at a rapid speed. Vega said and did nothing.

  “Whatever you are going to do it better be now,” said Jones.

  Taylor and Rogers waited for his response.

  “Sixteen klicks!”

  Jones’ pulse was up now, and he started to sweat. He couldn’t see what could be done to stop this new threat that appeared ready to smash their flank unopposed.

  “Fifteen klicks!”

  “Admir…” began Jones in protest.

  He was silenced as the lead vessel was blown apart, and soon after the others followed its fate, e
xplosions igniting all around them in a wall of flame.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “A mine field.” Taylor smiled.

  “Nasty tactics,” Rogers added.

  “This is a nasty war.” Vega was watching the enemy assault be blunted. Unable to escape the field as proximity mines soared towards them, tearing them open as though they were tin cans.

  “Aren’t they all?” Taylor asked.

  The Attila was taking a beating but shrugging off all that was being thrown at her, but another vessel off to her starboard side was blown apart as a wing of enemy fighters made a final strafing run to finish her off. They did not escape the retribution of the Attila. A salvo of fire destroyed three of them before they could celebrate their victory.

  Taylor could do nothing but watch the horrific battle unfold before his eyes. The Alliance was giving everything they had. Nobody shied away, nobody ran. Everybody fought. They knew this could be the end just like Vega did, and they weren’t going down without a fight.

  It was a marvel to behold for Taylor. More than anything he knew they did it not because they had to, but because they believed in him, and that he could beat Bolormaa. That alone was enough to give him new hope. The guns of the Resolution were unrelenting, and just as before were getting so little in return. So much so that they focused little on what was around them.

  “What is that?” Jones asked.

  They could all instantly tell what it was and where it was going. An enemy assault craft, and it was on course to breach one of the docking bays of their ship.

  “Take it down!” Vega ordered.

  It was too late. A burst of fire penetrated the shield of the docking bay. Its armoured nose burst through the shield with brute force strength and speed, and the ship vanished from view. One of the screens quickly changed to a view from the docking bay just in time to see the doors of the craft fly open from where it had crashed to a halt. It had destroyed two fighters on impact. Dozens of Morohtan warriors poured out with Juggernauts leading the way.

  Several pilots returned fire with their side arms, but to no effect. Volleys cut down the pilots and crew around them as many fled. A number of marines were engaging, but even as they watched, several were killed as the enemy swamped them.

  “On me!” Taylor yelled.

  He was referring to both Jones and Rogers.

  “It isn’t your time yet, Colonel!” Vega protested.

  “If there is to be a ship left for Bolormaa to find me on when she shows her face, then I am going down there,” he growled and rushed on without another word.

  “This isn’t exactly to plan,” said Rogers.

  “Clearly you don’t know the Colonel as well as you thought,” replied Jones with a smile.

  “You know what is at stake if this plan fails, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I know,” grimaced Taylor.

  “So you know how vital it is that you are saved until the right moment.”

  “If you wanted a yes man, you should have chosen someone else. I only know how to do things one way.”

  “His way,” added Jones.

  “That’s what worries me.”

  They were soon met by a detachment of marines led by Sommer.

  “Lead the way, Sir. We are with you.”

  “I wouldn’t be so eager to get your head blown off, Lieutenant,” replied Rogers.

  “What are you scared of? We have the Colonel with us.”

  Jones smiled as Rogers shook his head.

  “What’s wrong?” Jones asked quietly.

  “That cult of personality.”

  “What of it?”

  “It won’t win battles, or save lives.”

  “No? Having confidence in the ability to seize victory from the enemy is the first hurdle to overcome. Those who follow Taylor need never doubt it. Is that not a valuable weapon?”

  Rogers shrugged, unable to disagree. They could hear gunfire up ahead, and they knew they were close now. Taylor primed his rifle and raised it ready to fight. He upped his pace, leading from the front as he so often did. Rogers was shaking his head and cursing quietly under his breath. That only made Jones smile further, they both knew there was nothing that could be done to change Taylor.

  “You want a man willing and able to stand up to Bolormaa, well, you best let him be what he was born to be.”

  Taylor’s rifle burst into action as he took aim and didn’t hesitate to open fire as they entered a dining hall. It was several hundred metres from the docking bay where they had seen the enemy land, and so that of concern. The facility had clearly been prepared ready as a makeshift hospital, and several medical orderlies lay dead beside the beds they had been preparing.

  Morohtan warriors strode through unopposed, until now. Taylor’s first burst wounded one, forcing it to go to cover as the others followed suit. He drew out a grenade and primed it, launching it over the tables and into their position. One leapt out of the way but was hit by a hail of rifle fire before the charge ignited. The other two were blown apart. Taylor was closing the distance before the debris had even settled. He spotted a glimmer of movement and turned his rifle on the target. It was the upper half of one of the enemy warriors. Its legs had been blown off, and still it reached for its weapon to continue fighting. He took aim at the back of its head, firing a single shot to put it out of its misery.

  The room fell silent once more, and they could see the full extent of the carnage the enemy had caused. Many of the galley staff that had been assisting the medics lay dead beside them. Several had side arms still in hand where they had tried in a futile attempt to defend themselves.

  “Poor souls, they never stood a chance,” said Jones.

  “Where were the marines that were supposed to be guarding this district?”

  Gunfire rang out in the distance. Taylor had his answer, and he ran off in the direction of it, as he always did.

  “If she wants Taylor so bad, and is going out of her way to damage this ship, why would she sent a boarding party now?” Jones asked.

  Rogers shrugged as if unsure. “I guess she wants confirmation that he is indeed here.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he is the one thing she knows the Alliance would never throw away. The one man that would never be used in a suicidal trap.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think anyone ever told the Colonel that. He’d happily take such a task.”

  “Yes, but the rest of us wouldn’t allow it. We can’t. We can’t afford to.”

  More gunfire rang out as Taylor rushed into the corridor at the far end of the room, and he was thrown back as smoke smouldered from the side of his helmet where a shot had glanced him.

  “You’ve got to be more careful!” Rogers shouted, as Jones helped the Colonel back onto his feet.

  “I am gonna do this the only way I know how.”

  He drew a grenade and launched it around the corner, composing himself just in time for the blast. He rushed on after it with his shield raised and his rifle firing. Rogers could only sigh as he was forced to follow the Colonel to ensure he had his back. Several shots bounced from their shields, and one ricochet struck Rogers in the joint of his right arm. He let out a cry in pain as he lost the grip of his rifle and was thrown back against the wall behind Taylor, but the Colonel had not even noticed. He was too focused on the enemy at his front.

  He drew out a flash grenade and launched it forward. It homed in on the enemy as he lowered his visor. They got a few shots off at him before the blast blinded them. He gunned the first down with a brutal burst from his rifle before running empty. He dropped his weapon and went straight for his Assegai, knowing is side arm would struggle to penetrate their thick armour.

  As he rushed forward, he hit the switch to extend the weapon to its full length, skewing the first enemy with such immense power the blade drove right up to the hilt before stopping. The energy of the impact on the hilt lifted the creature up off its feet and threw it off of his blade. He recoil
ed and spun, and in doing so slashed the remaining stunned creature across the collar and neck. His blade opened its armour and severed its collar. It collapsed dead.

  Taylor looked like he was taking out his aggression on the creatures as though anticipating his fight with Bolormaa, but they all knew that this was a walk in the park compared to that.

  “This was no serious assault. It could never have hoped to achieve success against a vessel this large, and the Marine contingent that such a vessel would operate,” said Taylor in surprise as it began to dawn on him.

  “I am getting reports of enemy on the decks immediately above and below,” said Jones.

  “Sommer, send out fireteams to both,” ordered Taylor.

  “What are you thinking?” asked Rogers.

  “Can’t be too many more. It doesn’t make any sense, what were they after?”

  Jones and Rogers looked at one another. They had already figured it out.

  “Me? This is what it was all about? Identifying my presence? This many lives just to do that? Couldn’t she just have hailed us and asked?”

  He already knew the answer to that. They all did. The lives of her soldiers and her subjects meant nothing to her.

  “She’ll want to know for certain before stepping foot here, Colonel.”

  Rogers agreed, “Every time you have faced her it has been at a time and place of her choosing; except that one time when you hurt her badly. She will remember it, and she won’t take any chances.”

  “She’s angry and impatient, isn’t she?”

  “I’d say so. You’ve made her look a fool. She toyed with you for too long, and it’s started to burn her. Now she must show the world that she truly can beat you, or else it’ll look as though she is constantly ducking you.”

  “And nothing would make her any more furious than to have the universe thinking that, would it?” asked Jones.

  Rogers nodded. “Damn right.”

  “You can do it, can’t you? Defeat her I mean.” Jones sounded more than a little worried.

  “We have a better chance than ever before,” replied Rogers.