Star Crusader: Siege of Kalar

by Thomas, Michael G.

  Nate was surprised to hear her say that in front of the others, but when she repeated it in her own language, it seemed to be much appreciated. Cassandra whispered quietly into his ear.

  “They are competing with us, so she’s reassuring them that they just lost because of the equipment, and not their skills.”

  Nate did his best to remain unmoving, but Billy noticed his confusion.

  “It’s not just…”

  Cassandra lifted a hand and cut him off.

  “Not now, Billy, this is not the time or the place.”

  “Okay, then,” said Lieutenant Commander Holder, “This time we will simulate a fleet engagement. A mixed Alliance and Byotai force engaging a similar sized Star Empire fleet.”

  “Fleet defence?” asked one of the Byotai.

  Holder shook her head.

  “No, ship engagement. I want you to hit a cruiser. Let’s see what damage you can do working together.”

  Another Byotai lifted an arm.

  “May we have a moment?”

  She nodded.

  “Of course.”

  The pilot moved towards Nate and the others, stopped in front of them, and lowered his head slightly.

  “I have suggestions for ship engagement.”

  Nate looked to his friends and then slowly to the alien.

  “Of course, let’s hear them.”

  The Byotai was about to start explaining, but Nate could see the others were watching in silence. He clambered on top of one of the chairs and called over to them.

  “We need to make our plans. Let’s figure this out.”

  As the translators did their job, a few moved closer, and before he knew it, all of them were clustering around Nate, Valdis, and the others. Many spoke at once, some even using their hands to show imaginary spacecraft. Holder watched them all with interest, barely noticing the flashing bracelet on her hand. She turned away from the conversation and activated the videostream communication. To her surprise she found Commander Higgins, and Major Spartan flickering over the Secpad bracelet.

  “Sir.”

  “Lieutenant Commander,” said Spartan, “We’re ahead of schedule. Two more ships remain, and then we are leaving.”

  That took her by surprise.

  “Must we leave that soon?”

  Spartan nodded.

  “Yes. We’ve received contact from our tracking buoys in the Ararrh. The enemy is massing as before and already deploying heavy engineering craft near the Rift. It looks like they are no longer waiting for reinforcements.”

  He hesitated, perhaps unhappy at speaking of such sensitive matters over the data network. A quick glance behind and a few words seemed to reassure him. When he looked back, his expression was even sterner than before.

  “Admiral Churchill suspects our attack has forced them into action, before we are able to coordinate a strategy to take the fight to them.”

  Not a bad idea. Take the gloves off, and we could do some major damage.

  “All that matters for us is our orders. Churchill is worried, and he should be. We’re outnumbered, and this Princeps knows it. That’s why the Admiral is calling all vessels to their deployment positions. The attack is imminent, and we need to get back.”

  “Understood, Sir.”

  Spartan hesitated before adding a final question.

  “I can give you twenty-four hours, not a second more. Can you get them working together by then?”

  She smiled.

  “Sir, they are already doing that. And we can continue training on the way back to the fleet.”

  “Excellent. Then I will leave you to it. Be ready, there’s a fight coming.”

  With that, he was gone, and just Commander Higgins remained.

  “Okay, tell me the truth. Is it working?”

  Holder looked back at the pilots.

  “They’ll be ready, that much I can promise you.”

  “Good. I’m liaising with the captains of each ship to get as many fighters ready as possible. If we’re lucky, me might be heading home with more than we left with. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Commander.”

  The communication connection cut. She hesitated for a second as the gravity of the situation rushed to her. It wasn’t the battle that concerned her, but the chance of failure with her new pilots. They were all busy speaking to each other, and she walked down the steps towards one of the pods. As she placed a hand on the unit, they stopped talking.

  “Sir?” Nate asked.

  She pulled the straps away from the unit and moved alongside it, ready to get inside.

  “I command the Ironclads, and when it comes to the fight, we’ll be in this together. Are you ready for the next mission?”

  The positive response was almost instantaneous.

  “Good. Then strap in and ready your fighters. We keep at this until it’s time to leave.”

  Nate clambered into his own pod, pulled the safety strap across his body, and placed the mesh interface onto his head. He closed his eyes and when told, opened them. He was back in the fighter, and this time he could see three squadrons of fighters spread out over five kilometres. They were in the middle of a formation of Byotai and Alliance ships, and directly ahead were a dozen enemy vessels.

  “This is it, people. Vampire Squadron will break through their fighter screen. Ironclads will then move in on the cruiser, with Sword flying cover. Don’t use your anti-ship missiles until we are past the long-range defensive fire. Are you ready?”

  They all called in their replies.

  “Very well. Follow me!”

  * * *

  Nine hours later

  Nate and the others lay fast asleep in all manner of positions in the recreation room. Luckily for all of them, the comfortable rest area was part of the training centre, equipped with soft seating and blackened windows to keep most of the light out. Several white board units on the walls were now covered in multiple diagrams showing attack paths. Valdis walked along them, dressed only from the waist down, enjoying the calm and quiet of the place. They’d fallen asleep wherever they’d been four hours earlier. Some were in their beds, but a few of the Byotai were even on the floor.

  “Curious,” she said quietly.

  The last board showed circular paths that only the most agile of fighters would be able to follow. In the middle was a realistic looking Star Empire light cruiser, along with the known weak points marked in red.

  “Yes, that could work.”

  The training scenarios had been relentless, and even she’d been tired after the incessant drills. They’d trained against warships, other fighters, and attacking military installations. With each mission the pilots were getting better at working together. Ego had vanished, and now there was something else, a need to succeed that pushed them all harder than ever before. She had never expected it, but it was putting a smile on her face. All of them were asleep, and as she moved silently past them, she noticed Nate lying on his back, looking up at the ceiling and utterly still. She waited and watched him for a while. The warmth was comfortable for her, but was proving a little too much for the Humans. Every one of them was uncovered and trying to cool themselves down.

  What’s that?

  Something blinked off in the training room. She slowly walked towards the open doorway, her hands down at her thighs, ready to draw her blade. She’d left her pistol and helmet next to her heap of clothes. That didn’t worry her, and she kept on moving until reaching the doorway. Once there her eyes scanned the interior for any possible problem. A few blinking lights marked some of the pods still switched on. The large display in the centre of the room was partially visible, but as she looked at it, she noticed there was something going on. Instead of the simulated battle, there was the shape of the Alliance ships waiting in their holding pattern, and behind them the bright flashing of light as other ships arrived next to them. They came in quickly, as though materialising out of thin air.

  “What?”

  The lights increased i
n brightness, and then the emergency alert sounded. It was a shrill alarm, different to the klaxons by the Humans, but equally painful to hear. She rushed back into the room where the pilots were already rising from their slumber. Nate jumped up and nearly fell over, realising he was looking at the half-naked figure of Valdis.

  “Uh, wow!” Billy said, grabbing his PDS gear.

  Valdis shook her head.

  “We’ve got bigger problems.”

  More lights flashed on, and Lieutenant Commander Holder marched in with a trio of marines at her flank. Their visors were open, and Nate spotted Valentine right away.

  “We need to get out of here.”

  “What’s going on?” Nate asked.

  Holder swallowed uncomfortably.

  “The Star Empire has found us, and they’re coming for the station, dozens of transports and warships. It’s a boarding action, and they’ll be here within fifteen minutes.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Kalar Anchorage, 9th Quadrant

  January 13th 2473

  Nate had never run as fast as this before. The entire group was already a long distance from the training centre and now heading for the fighter deck. Had the place been attacked before the war, it would have been a disaster, but with so much completely deserted, it was relatively easy to move about. The warning siren continued to sound but at a significantly reduced volume. As they reached one of the wider passages, they paused for a moment. They could see nearly a kilometre to the left and right, and even the ceiling was almost a hundred metres above them. Empty passages and bridges filled the upper levels, but most of the space was completely open, save for the myriad of abandoned robotic assembly machines now dormant on each side.

  “What’s going on?” Billy asked.

  Holder was at the front with her Marine bodyguard, and they looked worried. Valentine kept her bent right arm lifted upwards, the universal signal to halt. Holder looked back to her pilots. She spotted Nate and Billy looking directly at her.

  “Hold on.”

  She looked back to her marines.

  “We have to get to the other side, past the low tier ship berth, and to the deck. Our fighters are waiting for us.”

  Nate shifted along to the front, feeling much safer inside his PDS Naval armour, and carrying his autorevolver in his right hand. He would have loved nothing more than to be sitting inside his fighter right now, with scanners feeding the latest fleet-wide information to his systems. Instead he was stuck with only local information and the basics about what was happening outside. He could see the battleground now, and it filled him with dread. In the past this entire area would contain a single massive ship, but now it was empty. In its place was an unoccupied berth, along with dozens of bridge structure that crossed the empty space.

  “What’s happening? We need to keep moving.”

  Private Valentine gave him a stern look, and her visor flipped up to reveal her face. She was nervous.

  “Not yet, stay there. Something isn’t right.”

  They were spread out along a massive loading passage. This was the last point offering much in the way of low cover. The ground ahead was pockmarked with indentations and large flat areas suitable for storing equipment and machinery. To a well-entrenched defender, this open space could become a killing ground with little effort. Nate was no soldier, but he’d grasped the problem.

  She’s scared we won’t make it across.

  He looked back and checked the passage for anything that might help them. There were the marks on the ground for robotic loaders that led directly ahead. The channels were nearly half a metre deep and marked from constant heavy use. There were no shafts or other passages this low down, and the only other route appeared to be another passage that went back parallel with the direction they’d come from. There was limited cover other than the thick pillars at the sides of the wide passage. Nate looked up. Another conveyer belt system was suspended eighty metres up and circled away to the right.

  “Get down!” Private Valentine yelled.

  Most of the pilots scattered for cover, but not the marines. The open ground was dangerous, and many dropped to the floor, sheltering in the channels cut for the loading machines. The marines stood their ground and took aim with their carbines. They moved like machines as their training kicked in. They instinctively lowered to one knee and scanned for targets. Right then an object ripped down from the ceiling high above them. It was big, much bigger than a shuttle, although civilian in design. It came down fast and slammed to the metal flooring fifty metres away. Its retro engines only fired as it reached the ground, slowing just enough to avoid disintegration.

  “Who are they?”

  Cassandra yanked Billy down to her level.

  “Stay down, you idiot. Those are cargo container shuttles.”

  “And?”

  Matilda could hear the commotion as she knelt beside them.

  “They are marked with Star Empire insignia. Either they are carrying warheads, or this is a boarding action.”

  Nate’s stomach lurched as he listened to those words. He’d been on the receiving end of enough boarding actions to know they terrified him. Star ships and stations were claustrophobic places, with no places to escape and a myriad of dead ends. It would be worse though if they were carrying bombs.

  What if this is just another chance to detonate atomics inside the Anchorage?

  The pilots waited behind the tall metal supports that lifted up to the distant bridge structure and heavy planet equipment. They were not panicking and drew their motley selection of pistols to join battle. A handful even carried stripped down versions of the venerable Krokspjot carbine. The stocks were simple tubular fittings, and most of the solid furniture cut down to reduce weight and overall size.

  “Wait,” said Valdis, “I know what this is. We…”

  Before she could finish two massive airlock doors blasted off, and scores of figures rushed out. For a second Nate thought it was parts falling off the craft, but they were people, and many were not even wearing military gear.

  “What?”

  Nate grabbed Billy, pulling him back down as a scattered volley of gunshots hit their position. Then came a loud whistling sound and a cheer. Nate popped his head around the corner of the metal pillar and towards the object. There must have been forty or more people, and they reminded him of those back on Mognathus 7.

  “They’re Technophobes.”

  Valdis shook her head.

  “The Biomech haters?”

  Billy heard her and shrugged.

  “They’re expendable cannon fodder, and they’ve been taught to hate the Biomechs, and anybody close to them. That means anybody other than them.”

  “Yeah,” said Valdis, “I thought as much. No matter what happens, you still find stupid people.”

  Lieutenant Commander Holder looked across to them.

  “Valdis, is there another way to the deck?”

  Before she could answer, another pair of the craft broke from gaps above and screamed down, striking the ground. Dust and smoke surrounded the craft while scores more of the people clambered out. Many were the usual lithe figures that marked them out as Anicinàbe, but there were a good number of Byotai as well. Two races, both linked inextricably by this new cult fostered by the fledgling Star Empire. As Nate watched them fanning out, he wondered if maybe they should be doing the same.

  “They’re moving around us!” Private Valentine shouted, “I need fire support now!”

  A small group of pilots moved around her and opened fire. Their guns spat in short bursts, hitting shapes as they lurched back and forth in the smoke. Two more craft came down but were almost impossible to spot in the smoke. One round came ever so close, glancing off the pillar centimetres above Nate’s head. He ducked down and looked to Billy who still had his visor open.

  “Whoa! That was close.”

  Nate reached out and tapped the half open visor.

  “Seal that thing, you idiot.”

 
; “Get back!”

  It was Valentine, and as Nate watched, she moved from her position and towards the pillars on the right-hand side. Nate spotted three large groups of enemy warriors, and they were moving fast. At the head of one unit was a tall Byotai, holding a standard with the remains of a creature hanging from it.

  A Thegn?

  “Fire!”

  The entrenched pilots and marines opened up with everything they had. Alliance carbines fired in bursts, while the thermal carbines of the Byotai sent white-hot bolts into the enemy ranks. Six went down, but double that number clambered over the bodies and kept on coming. Nate lifted his pistol but felt his arms go weak. Nerves had kicked in, and he suddenly felt out of his depth.

  I…I can’t do…

  Valdis dropped down next to him and placed a Krokspjot in his hands.

  “Aim low and squeeze.”

  She then turned away, much to Nate’s thanks. He was no coward, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t terrified. The marines stood their ground, as they’d been trained, but the pilots were much more cautious and stuck to their cover for all it was worth. The crowd of warriors crashed into the marines and out into the passage. Nate saw Valentine go down under the weight of numbers, and then they were coming for him.

  Fire, you idiot!

  Without even aiming, Nate pulled the trigger. The carbine was a powerful piece of equipment, and the first shot almost blew it right from his arm. He lowered his pistol, dropping it into the holster, and placed both hands on the carbine. The subsequent shots were more accurate, and he kept on going until the clip ran dry. Without having to check, a hand appeared and handed him another clip. With a single, smooth movement he slipped it in, pulled the charging lever, and then fired again.

  “There’re too many of them!” shouted one of the marines, “Fall back.”

  Nate moved out from cover and instantly took a hit to his chest. A metal dart-shaped projectile had embedded in the medium chest plates of his PDS armour. Alerts in his helmet confirmed the breach, yet he could feel no pain.