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

by Nick S. Thomas

  It had given the Attila and the second frigate time to build up speed and put some more distance between them, but the enemy vessel continued to give pursuit.

  "Roworth, we need to shake them, and do it fast," said Rogers.

  "I’m doing all that I can."

  "Even if we can outrun them, they are following us down to the surface. God knows what army they have on board," added Jones.

  "I am not sure what else we can do. We may have to turn and face them."

  Nobody had an answer for it.

  "We're going to have to slow our descent before long. We have to, and when we do, they'll smash us," replied Rogers.

  "No choice, then, we have to turn and fight," said Taylor.

  "But what about Bolormaa?"

  "If we can't survive the next few minutes, Jones, it really doesn't matter, does it?”

  "Captain, do you think the armour of this ship will hold against a weapon of that magnitude?" Rogers asked.

  "Maybe one or two shots if we are lucky, but we have no way of telling for sure."

  That was not the news any of them wanted to hear, but they all looked to Taylor to make the decision.

  "Take us about. We engage the enemy. Take evasive action, and avoid as much of it as you can."

  Roworth gritted his teeth. None of them had any confidence facing such a powerful warship head on, but they had no choice. They started to come about, and the other frigate did so with them.

  "In range in thirty seconds," said Roworth.

  They were all counting down in their heads, wondering if they should abandon ship on the transports on the deck, but knowing that if the Attila was gone, they'd never make it.

  "We were so close. So damn close," complained Jones.

  Taylor couldn't believe it either. Their bow was now in line with the enemy vessel, though they were still approaching the planet as their engines began to slow their descent.

  "This is it," said Jones.

  A light lit up on the enemy ship as though an immense power was building before the surge of light that seemed to devastate anything in its path. But to their amazement explosions burst out from the rear hull of the vessel. The light vanished, and it began to bank, exposing its flank as it turned to face the threat at the rear.

  "Everything we've got. Let 'em have it!" Taylor ordered.

  Their weapon systems opened up and hit the enemy ship time and time again. Several Cholans buzzed past the enemy vessel, clearly the ones responsible for inflicting the damage.

  "Cholans? Who knew they had it in them?" CJ asked.

  They swooped in and around the vast enemy ship, continually firing at it. But the port side guns soon opened fire on the Attila, and they were rocked violently. A fire broke out on the docking bay, and Rogers and Babacan rushed to extinguish it. They kept laying down fire into the enemy ship, but couldn't do enough damage quickly enough. The Cholans could see it, too. They watched in disbelief as a frigate lined up for a run and powered towards the enemy hull.

  "No way," said Jones.

  It was a kamikaze attack. The enemy vessel fired on them, but it was too late, the frigate smashed into the vast vessel. It burst through its hull engulfed in flames. It was followed by another frigate that crashed into the engines of the vessel.

  "Keep hitting them!" Taylor shouted.

  They couldn't believe their luck, and yet they knew it was not luck at all. The Cholans had given their lives for the Attila and her crew.

  "I will never criticise another Cholan again," CJ said in amazement.

  The enemy warship began to lose power completely. They had their chance.

  "Let's get back to the job!" Taylor yelled.

  The ruined hulk of the enemy vessel had both Cholan cruisers embedded in its hull. It had become one big mangled and twisted mess. Fires still raged throughout. It was a heavy price to pay. Tuin's voice came over the comms.

  "Colonel Taylor?"

  "I'm here," he replied solemnly, as Roworth brought them about to begin their descent once more.

  "You have a clear path from her, Colonel. The fleet needs us now."

  "I hear you. Go to the Admiral and all those still fighting. We will handle Bolormaa from here. Your sacrifices..." He could not find the words of gratitude.

  "They will be rewarded in time. Kill Bolormaa. That is all that matters."

  "Good luck," said Taylor.

  The signal ended. None of them could actually believe they were still alive, and that the time had finally come to face her. Everyone was listening in across the ship.

  "The path is clear. We have the tools, and we have the courage. All of us do. It falls to us now. It falls to us to destroy the greatest evil the universe has ever known. Remember what this despotic Queen has cost us all. Billions of lives lost. Even now our friends are fighting and dying because of her. Remember that. This is a battle of good versus evil for the ages. Thousands of years ago, this creature, this wretch Bolormaa, she wreaked havoc across the free peoples that we now call friends. She brings nothing but pain and suffering, and destruction. She must not be allowed to ever do it again. We are going down there into the beast’s lair, and we will not leave until she is dead. No matter what happens, no matter what it costs, one of us must end her life. Is that clear?"

  They were all nodding along in agreement.

  "We hear you, Colonel. We all know what has to be done, and we are behind you every step of the way," someone shouted.

  "You aren't following me. We do this together, as one. Now let's do this. Let's kill this bitch!"

  Roworth nodded in agreement and continued to relay commands to his crew.

  "It sure would be nice to have the AR2s right now, don't you think, Colonel?" Rogers asked.

  "Sure. And ten thousand marines supported by an aerial bombardment."

  Rogers couldn't help but smile.

  "But we can't have what we don't have. We played every trick we could to defeat her, but now it comes down to this. Men and women, and the will to stand and fight."

  "We have no idea what the strength of her forces down there are, do we?" whispered Jones.

  "It wouldn't matter even if we did. What if it was ten warriors, or ten thousand? This is what we have, and this is what we must use."

  "I doubt she would have much on hand in her Palace," replied Rogers.

  "How the hell can you know that?"

  "Because she is elitist scum who despises almost everyone who fights for her. She has no respect for them. She wouldn't want to fill her home with those she has so little care for."

  "Making some big guesses aren't you?" Jones asked.

  "Not quite." Taylor smiled. It was clear that he and Rogers knew something Jones did not.

  "Rivers' surveillance of this world was thorough. We are going to face some stuff resistance down there, but trust me, we can handle it."

  "Be nice if that little morsel of information was shared a little earlier, don't you think?"

  "Sorry, but this was too important."

  Jones didn't look happy about it, but understood the reasoning.

  "You know one day people will talk about what we did like some great legend, or nobody will, because we'll all be dead."

  "Then all you have to ask yourself is, how much do you want to live?" replied Taylor.

  "Step aside!" CJ yelled.

  He pushed through with a large tray full of glasses and put it down on a crate between them. He drew out bottles stuffed into the pockets of his armour and began to pour. It was obviously alcoholic, and he spilt plenty as he poured it liberally over so many glasses.

  "This is no time for drinking."

  "Bollocks, Jones, this is exactly the time for drinking." CJ took two more bottles from Mirov. The Russian drew out another two and kept pouring as well.

  "This isn't some kind of frat party. We're embarking on the most important mission of our lives," said Rogers.

  But still they poured.

  "Just one drink. Not enough to worry abo
ut. One drink to salute this great mission of ours."

  Rogers and Jones moved to appeal to Taylor, although he was smiling as he watched the drink poured.

  "You have to put an end to this," insisted Rogers.

  "No way. With what we are about to do, I'll take that drink." Taylor went forward and picked up the first glass.

  "Right on!" CJ shouted.

  Taylor grabbed a glass. It was only large enough for a single shot. He hoisted it up into the air.

  “To distant friends, to fallen comrades, may they live forever!”

  Jones eyes widened at how eloquent he had been.

  “Wow, that was a surprise,” Rogers said, grabbing a glass, too, and so did the rest.

  “May they live forever!” They all yelled before throwing back the drink.

  It tasted disgusting, although Taylor instantly felt better for it, his mind focussing and his worries fading away.

  “What the hell is this?”

  “Just a little something we make ourselves, jones.”

  “What the hell is in it?”

  “A few things to give you a boost,” he replied, smiling at Rogers.

  Taylor didn’t care to ask any further. He was glad of the pick me up. He was ready to sprint towards the enemy, and he felt invincible. He knew that was a dangerous trait. Right now, it was perfect. Smiles were on the faces of so many around him, and that warmed the heart. The fear was subsiding, their determination and bonds of friendship giving them hope and faith in one another. The ship was rocked by heavy gunfire once more, and they heard a violently creaking sound as pieces of the ship were ripped off.

  “We are losing power. We are going to go down hard!” Roworth said.

  “Buckle up!” Taylor roared.

  They rushed to the edges of the room, placing their backs against the walls. A series of metal straps and clamps locked each of them into place. No one was under any illusions at what this could mean.

  “I guess this wasn’t part of the plan?” Jones joked.

  They never put down on a hostile target with such a large vessel, and he knew it. It was quickly becoming clear that once the Attila was on the surface, it wasn’t going to be leaving it again. They had to hope somebody would come to their aid if they were ever to get out alive, but that seemed a distant dream at present. The prospect of surviving the mission was in doubt, let alone leaving the planet afterwards. They each sealed their helmets.

  “Brace for impact, brace, brace, brace!” Roworth shouted over the comms.

  Seconds later they crashed into the ground with an almighty impact. Somehow the ship held together and bounced around. They were travelling at such a speed that the belly of the hull continued to scrape along the ground for several hundred metres. Sparks flew all over the place, and the hull creaked as though screaming out in agony. They expected it to break up in any moment, but finally they drew to a standstill.

  Taylor was the first to release his restraints and rushed out into the centre of the hangar bay.

  “Is everyone okay?”

  They didn’t say anything, but they were stepping out of the restraints with a look of relief on their faces. Roworth rushed onto the floor of the hangar seconds later. He was armoured up and carrying a carbine.

  “What are you doing, Captain?”

  He was supported by fifty of his crew. They had simple lightweight armour, nothing close to the powered exoskeleton suits that Taylor and the marines wore.

  “There is nothing more we do can here, and you need all the help you can get.”

  “It’s going to get ugly.”

  “We signed up for this, and we knew what we were getting into. Nobody flies with Colonel Mitch Taylor and expects a calm ride.”

  Taylor didn’t want to put them into a situation they had no experience of, but every one of them was armed and trained to fight, and he needed every gun he could get.

  “This isn’t protocol.”

  “Fuck protocol, Rogers. What in the training manuals was ever written about the shit we are going through? I see brave men and women who are ready and willing to fight. Who are we to stop them?”

  He went to the hangar bay doors and hit a door release. The door opened slightly, but it jammed. The frame had warped from the damage sustained on impact. He put all his strength in, but he couldn’t shift it. He looked back and saw Babacan waiting to help. Turan and another Krys marine were standing behind him.

  “Step aside,” he said.

  Taylor obliged. The three marines got a grip on the door and heaved it open with ease. They stepped back and let him go first. He stopped and looked out at the snow-capped surface, considering what a momentous occasion this was. He looked down at his Mappad. The air was breathable, and there was no risk of radiation. He released his visor and took a deep breath of the icy fresh air.

  “Let’s do this.”

  He leapt from the doorway and landed in the snow almost two metres below. They worked their way around the forlorn vessel to head for the pyramid opening when they heard the buzzing sound of engines overhead. A wave of fighters was diving towards their position.

  “Cover!” Taylor yelled.

  They activated their shields and huddled into the side of the Attila as a strafing run began. Automatic pulse fire rained in over them. The shields glanced some of the shots, but others burst right through and killed several. The ship’s crew suffered the most; with little armour and no shields, they were cut to pieces. Fifteen were killed outright, and several others wounded. They began to turn to come in for a second pass. Taylor could make out large transport assault craft silhouetted against the sky. The fighters were just a precursor.

  “They must have launched from that vessel the Cholans took down!” Rogers yelled.

  Taylor looked over to the opening in the pyramid. It was a few hundred metres away.

  “We’ve got to move. We can’t stay here!”

  He didn’t wait for a response and rushed towards the structure.

  “Come on, run!”

  The rest soon followed. They’d got a hundred metres when the second strafing run began. Gunfire landed amongst them, and a dozen more were struck down. The fighters stormed past. Taylor looked back briefly to see all those they had left behind. It was heart breaking, but there was nothing they could do for them. All there was left was to complete the mission so that their deaths were not for nothing. They rushed into the pyramid like structure. The opening was only large enough for small transport craft. The assault ships of the enemy could make it through in theory, but not while they covered the entrance.

  “Take cover!”

  Taylor heard the fighters coming in for a third pass. A hail of fire struck the snow outside, and several shots managed to get through the opening, but they were well dug in, and nobody was hurt. They were safe, for now.

  A medic was seeing to Roworth, and Taylor rushed over to check on him. A shot had struck his left leg at the thigh and taken a chunk out of the muscle tissue.

  “I’m okay. I’m just not going anywhere soon.”

  He continued to clutch onto his rifle. The medic tried to take it from him, but he would not release his grip. Taylor went to the opening of the structure. Three assault craft come in to a hover position around their abandoned ship, and Morohtan warriors began pouring out onto the surface.

  “We will hold them here. You need to go,” Roworth said.

  Taylor didn’t like the idea, but he knew it was necessary.

  “Sommer, you and your squad stay here and support the Captain and his people. Nothing gets through, you hear me?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “And if anyone but us comes back out, you put them down to, you got it?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  She took up position as the enemy advanced on their position.

  “Not one of these things gets past us, you hear me?” she ordered.

  They were within two hundred metres, and she opened fire on them, and the others soon join in. Taylor stayed
for a moment, watching the fight ensue. The enemy numbers were increasing as more descended from the craft below. He wanted to stay and help, but Rogers grabbed him and pulled him on.

  “Come on. We’ve got work to do.”

  They went on several hundred metres until they came to a three-way fork, exactly as Taylor said they would.

  “This is it!” Taylor drew out a block of explosives.

  “Set your charges. We’re bringing down both sides. The only way out of here will be the way we came in!”

  “You sure that’s a good idea?”

  “It’s not a good idea, Jones, but it’s the way this has to be done. Either we walk out of here, or nobody does.”

  They all knew what that meant, not one among them was not expendable. It didn’t matter how many lives it cost to kill Bolormaa, only that she did indeed die. They placed a wall of charges through the tunnels on either side as they could hear the echo of gunfire coming from behind them. Taylor felt awful about leaving Roworth there, and yet the man himself seemed completely unbothered by it all.

  “All set, Colonel.”

  He led the way further into the palace. Fifty metres in, he looked back. He pressed a button on his Mappad, and the charges blew. They were precise and brought down the walls without any more drama.

  “There is nowhere for her to run now.”

  “You’re sure she is still down here?” Jones asked.

  “Absolutely. Rivers’ drones have kept an eye on this place since discovering it. She’s down here all right. Her lair. We have spent God knows how long being hunted by this bitch, it’s about time she learnt how that feels.”

  “So, this is it?”

  “This is a day that has been a long time coming,” added Jafar.

  “She has made both our peoples suffer for far too long, remember that, all of you. All the pain and suffering she has inflicted, and what it has cost us to get to this point. That is on her, all of it. Remember that when you fight here today.”

  CHAPTER 13

  They were descending deeper and deeper below the surface as they travelled down several kilometres of ramps. Tram-like lines were on each side of the tunnel, and clearly some means of transport operated there.