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

by Nick S. Thomas

  “Better, sure, but is that a good chance, or just some hope in hell compared to nothing at all?”

  “You should have seen us in action a week ago.”

  “I have seen those suits, and I am suitably impressed, but is it enough?”

  “Yes,” replied Rogers.

  “The truth is we don’t know,” added Taylor, “The only time we ever came close to defeating her was when we had Zaya on side. A creature so powerful, he is probably second only to the Queen herself. But now it’s just us, humans against that.”

  “She is powerful, but she is no god,” said Rogers.

  “You sure about that? She sure matches the description of a god.”

  “A pretty sick and twisted one.”

  “What makes you think a god would be anything but?”

  “Because a supreme being has a higher duty, Colonel,” said Rogers.

  “Remember, you aren’t a man of God anymore.”

  “Of course I am. Just because I had a change in career, that doesn’t change anything about how I feel, or what I know to be true. Bolormaa is no god, and any claim of such would make her a false idol.”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it,” said Jones apologetically.

  Rogers seemed content enough. “Talk of one being a god is no small thing. Wars have been fought over less. If Bolormaa is otherworldly, then she is a devil, and the Colonel has been sent here to strike her down.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “It would make more sense than any other explanation anyone has come up with. There are powers in this world greater than her, do you think they would sit back and let her cut a bloody path through the peoples of this place?”

  “If there is a God, he sure has sat out of plenty of things up to this point,” said Taylor.

  “Or you just do not see his presence. His influence. You have done things, and lived through things that no human ever could hope to do. You know there are other powers at work here, you must do. We just have to hope they are powers for good.”

  “All I know is how to fight, and that is what I will keep doing. If people need to believe in some higher being to help them sleep at night, well, that is their own business, but it’s not mine.”

  “Why is it that you refute this prophecy so much?”

  Taylor sighed and turned away.

  “Not you as well?” Jones asked.

  “The Krys prophecy, it may not be a human one, but it might as well have been, and we know it now. What if that prophecy is true?”

  “Well, then I guess I can’t lose.”

  “Don’t mock it. You can’t explain how you have got this far, and yet others offer an answer and you mock them for it.”

  “Because it’s crap. Explaining what you don’t know as God’s will, or his work, it’s just an easy answer to a tough question that doesn’t have an answer.”

  “It doesn’t matter anyway. It really doesn’t matter that you believe it, only that you live it,” replied Rogers.

  “What have you got yourself into now?” Jones asked Taylor as he shook his head in disbelief at what he was hearing.

  “Bolormaa believes in prophecy. We know she does. The Pauri Tau showed us that. Maybe that weapon wasn’t all that could kill her, but it is what she believed, and that is the rub, isn’t it? Sometimes what people believe is more important than the facts.”

  “Of course, that’s why the Colonel let this whole prophecy thing linger like it has. People like a good story. They always do.”

  “And yet every day you make one step closer to making it more than just a story, or a myth, but a reality.”

  “If I can kill her, sure, and that’s a big if.”

  “I thought these suits you have were up to the job?”

  Taylor grimaced. “Time will tell, Jones.”

  “You’re not exactly filling me with confidence.”

  “Yeah, well, if you wanted certainties in life you should never have joined the Army.”

  “That’s the truth right there.” Jones smiled.

  Without warning, the ship rocked violently as though they had hit a solid object in space, and they were thrown off their feet. Taylor hit the roof of the corridor head first and crumpled down. He felt the stress on his neck, and pain shot through his body as he hit the deck once more. The lights flickered for a few moments and most of them failed.

  “What the hell was that?” Jones shouted.

  A light flashed on Taylor’s Mappad for an urgent call. He shrugged off the pain and quickly accepted it.

  “Colonel, glad to see you are still with us.”

  “What the hell hit us, Admiral?”

  “What is left of a Morohtan frigate was unfortunately knocked off course during the fighting.”

  “Doesn’t the fleet know we need to be given space?”

  “Sorry, Colonel, it’s a mess out there. We are doing what we can.”

  Taylor groaned, knowing there was more to it.

  “All right, what do you want me to do about it?”

  “We’ve recorded seven escape pods en route from the enemy ship as we speak.”

  “They’re coming here?”

  “That’s right, Colonel.”

  “Well, how many troops are we talking about?”

  “Unknown, but the entrance to docking bay three is still open and damaged from the first breach. They’ll be able to come right on through. They must be contained within the docking bay. I am despatching two platoons of marines to your position now. It is essential that they do not make headway into this vessel.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I got it,” snarled Taylor as he ended the call.

  “This just keeps getting better,” said Jones.

  “We need to nip this in the bud now, or it could really come back to bite us in the ass.”

  “Really, Rogers? What the hell are they gonna do? Bolormaa wants me. She’s coming no matter what.”

  “And if they could secure the ship and cause us to jump out? She could pick us apart. Fight on her terms.”

  Taylor’s face turned to stone as he realised what that could mean. He crawled forward and grabbed hold of a bulkhead, hauling himself to his feet. He dropped his magazine and slammed in another.

  “I’ll be damned if we are going to play this the way she wants it. This is our fight, and we are doing it on our terms,” he said and rushed on towards the docking bay.

  “Just be thankful she wants to kill you with her own two hands, or we’d be mince meat by now,” said Jones.

  “Incredible, isn’t it? That a being so powerful could be so petty?”

  “You see, she’s not a god,” added Rogers.

  “Yeah, I’ll give you that one,” replied Jones.

  Taylor stepped through a doorway and felt something clamp around his ankle. He tumbled to the deck once more; a wounded enemy warrior was hauling him in. He tried to resist, but his rifle was gone, and the creature’s arms had bound his arms. A muzzle appeared beside his head, and two shots rang out. They both pierced the creature’s helmet, and blood spewed out across his face and visor.

  Taylor coughed and spluttered, kicking the body off. He rolled over onto all fours and spat out the foul smelling fluid.

  “Got more of a taste for this fight than you bargained for?” Jones asked as he began to laugh.

  Taylor shook his head in disgust as the Captain helped him upright. He wiped the blood from this visor, but only half of it came off. The rest smeared across the Perspex, forcing him to prise it open. He spat out another mouthful of the blood in some hope of riding himself of the flavour, but he knew it was a lost cause.

  “You okay?” Rogers asked.

  Taylor began to smile, as no matter how disgusting it was, he was still alive, unlike the corpse filled with holes lying at his feet.

  “Does it ever get old? All of this I mean?” Rogers stood back in disgust at the morbid sight.

  “Many times I would say yes, but then after a while, it seems like it’s all I know. I
t’s life, whether I like it or not. Do something long enough that you’re good at, and yeah, I think you learn to enjoy it.”

  “The killing, too?”

  “When it’s things like these, yeah, sure,” Taylor kicked the corpse.

  Rogers didn’t seem to share his opinion, but he still picked up Taylor’s rifle and handed it to him. The last of the lights finally failed, and the red emergency light kicked in soon after.

  “Come on, Colonel. We have work to do.”

  Taylor smiled at the prospect that he didn’t know that. He grabbed the rifle and primed it before running onwards.

  “If we kill her here today, does it all end, do you think?”

  “It’s possible. With Bolormaa dead, her armies will be scattered, but not defeated, and her sons may well try to pick up her mantle.”

  “Can we at least dwell on some happy thoughts?” Taylor asked.

  But it was too late. They had reached one of the entrances to the docking bay, and two shots flashed through into the ceiling above them. They listened to the gun battle going on. The pulsating sound of Morohtan weapons almost blotted out the sound of their comrades.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  Taylor ran in without a single hesitant step, and the others were obliged to follow. He was up against the landing gear of a shuttle and laying down a wall of fire. Dozens of the enemy poured out from a ship that had crashed hard on the landing deck. A squad of the ship’s marines were off to the right flank also laying down fire. They were cutting the enemy down, but two more ships had just entered the dock. One came in and crash-landed beside the other, but the last one was travelling far faster and on a direct course for the Marine squad.

  “Go, clear the way!” one of them yelled.

  They separated as they leapt for cover, but two were hit by enemy fire, and three more were struck by the craft as it crashed into the deck and ground along the deck. Sparks flew, and it crushed another marine against the far side wall before rocking to a halt.

  Jones ran in under a hail of fire, his shield the only thing keeping him from certain death. The rear landing gear of the ship Taylor was using for cover had collapsed. The aft of the ship lay crumpled on the deck, providing perfect cover for him and Rogers as they laid their rifles over one of the engines and opened fire.

  “Welcome to soldiering the good old fashioned way!” Jones yelled.

  They each emptied a magazine and ducked back down for cover to reload.

  “It’s not pretty, is it?”

  “None of it is. I’d not wish it on any man,” Rogers answered, as he slammed a magazine in and rose up to continue firing. Grenades ignited on the deck and one of Sommer’s squads reached a gantry above and began to triangulate fire. The enemy were dropping like flies now. A final ship crashed into the docking bay. It landed so hard that it split in two. One section ignited in flames, the other crashed into one of the other craft. The enemy poured out, some of them in flames.

  They emptied their magazines once again and were about to reload when they noticed Taylor rush out. He charged at them with his Assegai in hand and shield activated.

  “What is he doing?”

  “Only what he does best,” replied Jones. He drew his Assegai and rushed on after the Colonel.

  Rogers looked flabbergasted. He could do nothing but stand and watch as the two of them engaged a dozen enemy warriors even as the gun battle raged on. Taylor cut and thrust as he waded his way through the enemy, and Jones wasn’t far behind. Finally, all fell silent. The only sound that of a single marine squirming from his wounds as a medic gave assistance. Rogers stepped out into the carnage to see it for himself.

  “You see, Captain, we’ve been doing a mighty fine job of this long before Rivers ever came on the scene.”

  Rogers looked appalled and impressed in equal measure as they paced up to a large viewing window that looked out to space. The enemy had been almost completely defeated as the last ships were engaged and fighters pursued.

  “We did it,” said Jones in amazement.

  But they could see the toll it had cost them. They could see a dozen crippled or destroyed Alliance vessels, and the debris of others that were now completely unrecognisable.

  “They’ll be back, and in greater number,” said Jones.

  Rogers pointed to a flash of light as a jump gate opened and two dozens vessels passed through. All Morohtan, and one was unmistakeable, Bolormaa’s personal vessel.

  “She’s come. I don’t believe it,” said Rogers.

  “Wasn’t that the plan?” Jones asked.

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean it was going to work.”

  Taylor was speechless as he looked at the vast vessel and fleet that supported it.

  “Finally, the time has come.”

  CHAPTER 4

  “Let’s do this,” said Rogers.

  Taylor didn’t move and watched the enemy vessel. Neither side fired as though some unspoken ceasefire had been accepted. Everyone knew a challenge between Bolormaa and Taylor was coming, and now they stood back, watching and waiting.

  “Why aren’t they firing?” asked Jones.

  “Look at us, battered and bloody. She knows she could wipe us out, and so does Vega,” replied Rogers.

  Jones watched in horror as the vessel closed in on them. It looked like an ominous shadow over them, and her fleet seemed so powerful that it could destroy them at will.

  “So this is it? We just let her come to us?”

  “That is the plan,” replied Rogers.

  “It was always coming to this. We all knew it.”

  “Why is it that they always come after you?”

  “Because the Colonel made a name for himself. The day he defeated Karadag, and ever since he has been the yard stick for enemies to prove themselves against.”

  “You think they would learn a lesson from history.”

  “Yes and no. Every one of them has known how important Taylor is, and as he defeats them, the stakes only grow higher. Bolormaa sees herself as the most powerful being in the universe, and Taylor is the one thing threatening that reputation.”

  “I don’t see how. Not to be harsh, but Taylor has faced her before, and got his ass kicked.”

  “And yet here he is. Still alive, still a thorn in her side, and a pain in the ass to boot.”

  “So that’s it? I raise my head once to take a son of a bitch down, and I have to pay the price ever after?”

  “That is the price of fame.”

  “Yeah, well, any time someone else wants to take that off my hands, they are welcome to it,” growled Taylor.

  “You say that, and yet at every opportunity you have, you stand out and make yourself a target,” said Rogers.

  “So what should I do, not give it my all?”

  “Surely not, you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.”

  “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” added Jones.

  Bolormaa’s ship began to slow, holding a position a few hundred metres from the bow of the Resolution. It was clear she was preparing to board them.

  “You ready for this?”

  “Do I look ready, Jones?”

  “Come on. Let’s get this party started,” replied Rogers.

  Taylor didn’t move, just watched, and studied the enemy vessel. It maintained position, and there was no sign of movement.

  “What is she waiting for?”

  Rogers shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “She wants to know she isn’t walking into a trap,” replied Taylor.

  “The all powerful Bolormaa, you’d think she was above all that. That she could walk into any trap and still leave the victor.”

  “That’s what she wants everyone to think and what she needs to prove, but she knows it just isn’t true,” replied Rogers.

  “She is scared, just like we are,” added Taylor.

  “And she would be right to be. This is anyone’s chance now.”

  “I don’t like this at all. She
’s right there, why don’t we just blow her to hell right now?”

  “With everything we have here we could not defeat that ship and all she has brought her,” replied Rogers.

  To their amazement there was a glimmer of light. A jump gateway suddenly opened, and Bolormaa’s fleet turned and passed into it. The three of them were speechless for several minutes.

  “What? Why?” Jones finally asked.

  They could hear the roar of applause at their backs. It was echoing around the ship as though they had won some great victory, but the three of them knew better.

  “I don’t understand, what is she doing?”

  “You are the intelligence officer, you explain it,” replied Taylor.

  Rogers looked dumbfounded.

  The celebrations went on, but not for Taylor. He had grown to accept that this was the day to decide it all, and now that had been taken from him, too.

  “What do you think? She saw through Vega’s suicidal plan?”

  “I don’t see how, Colonel, but it is entirely possible.”

  “Now what? This was our one chance to choose the ground for this battle, and she didn’t take the bait.”

  Still Rogers had no answers.

  “We need answers. It cost us a lot to get to this point, and now we have nothing,” said Jones.

  “I…I wish I had some. This is completely out of character for her.”

  “Out of character? You’ve been studying her since the start, have you learned nothing?”

  “Enough!” Taylor demanded.

  Jones was silenced, but he didn’t look too happy about it.

  “We have enough troubles of our own. Let’s not turn on one another as well. Nobody could see this coming, because it has never happened before, but now we just have to roll with it. There are people out there that need our help. Get onto Vega and see what we can do.”

  * * *

  “We’re coming up on the enemy position, Sir. This asteroid belt will only hide our presence for a few minutes more,” said Kaner.

  The hulking Krys officer didn’t seem bothered at all by his assessment and spoke in a very matter of fact manor. CJ just nodded in agreement from his Captain’s chair. He had a grin on his face as though excited about what was to come.