Star Crusader: Siege of Kalar

  Don’t move, whatever you do. If they see you, then this is all over.

  Her leg was slightly exposed, but her combat training had long ago told her the things predators looked for. Movement was the primary identifying factor, and though every muscle in her body told her to recoil to safety, she fought against it. The beam moved closer and danced about her position, finding the refuse of empty cans and food containers. And then to her relief it started to move away. She let out a breath of air, and at that moment it leapt back, stopping at her leg. One of the group shouted and two more lights switched on.

  Screw this.

  Valentine pulled in her leg and reached for her carbine. Mixed voices in several dialects and languages called out to her, but she ignored them all. One thing she knew was that they were not her friends. She pulled the carbine close to her chest and activated the core. The weapon felt cool yet reassuring in her hands. She knew that with this gun she was safe, but only for so long.

  Don’t let me down now.

  The L52 Mark V assault carbine was the standard firearm in the Alliance inventory, and one of the most reliable and desirable pieces of military technology ever created by man. A century earlier the technology was only fitted in spacecraft, but now it had been miniaturised into the size of a conventional, if slightly oversized carbine. The resulting package was still a good bit smaller than the original. The ready indicator blinked gently, but that didn’t relax her much.

  I’m down to minimal ammunition, and more important, where will I go when they know I’m alive?

  “Hvem er der?”

  She moved her finger to the trigger and listened carefully. She recognised the Byotai language, but her systems were on low-power mode, and that included her translator circuits. She considered activating them, but as the group moved out into the open, she got a better look at them. There were now four of the heavily soldiers, the golden-tinted leader, and as many Technos in their civilian garb. One continued arguing, and the officer stepped in and struck him.

  What the hell is going on?

  “Show yourself!”

  This time the language was understandable, even though heavily accented.

  Do they know I’m here?

  The figures moved closer, with the soldiers taking their time. The Technos didn’t seemed particularly concerned at running into danger and separated out to look behind metal hatches, bulkheads, and pipes. Each carried a different weapon, with one in particular carrying a metal rod nearly two metres long. He would stop at a piece of cover and start banging away at it, trying to elicit a reaction.

  Stay calm.

  They didn’t back down, though, and that surprised her. She’d been careful, intentionally making sure she left a minimal trail as she worked her way inside the massive place. She’d heard the descriptions of it, but hadn’t appreciated the vastness until being left behind. It was no space station, but a massive artificial moon designed to construct and repair ships of all types. Valentine suspected it would take an entire fleet to cause damage to the place, and even then it would probably survive.

  Then they found her. It started with shouts, and the Technos came for her. She twisted about and lifted her carbine to her shoulder. Two came hurtling around a pair of bulkheads and into view. One carried a bar in one hand, while the second a pistol in the right and a lantern in the other. He opened fire, but the shot went wide and glanced off the metallic surface. The gunfire and flashes did light up the shaft, making it easier for her to strike back.

  Now!

  The carbine punched into her shoulder as the triple barrels unleashed their magnetised projectiles. It was a coilgun, a variant of the mass driver technology used on ships, and capable of accelerating the bullets to ultra-high speeds. The first two rounds struck the Techno with the pistol in the chest. He went down hard, but the second kept on coming.

  “Stay back!”

  The Techno ignored her and lifted the metal bar up high while screaming something at the top of his voice. Distant guns opened up, but she ignored them and put two rounds into one of its legs. He went down hard, howling in pain and frustration. More shapes emerged from the right, and then there were a dozen of them, all closing in like a swarm.

  “I warned you.”

  Valentine flipped the selector automatic and pulled the trigger. The triple barrels, combined with the loading mechanism, gave her a high rate of fire. Each slug slammed into its target and knocked them back onto the floor. One round after another until the magazine was empty. Without moving the gun, she released the clip and slipped in another. The gun made a short hissing sound, and then she was ready to fire again. Two bullets glanced offer her arm, and another blasted a chunk off her chest. She stumbled back to the nearby bulkhead, shook her head, and then kept on firing. Her bursts were short and controlled, maximising firepower and accuracy, while expending the minimum amount of ammunition.

  Six down, plenty more to go.

  The gun spat fire, and Valentine barely even thought as she went through the mechanical drill of loading, aiming, and firing until finally the few survivors withdrew, called back by their officer. She watched them carefully, flicked her vision modes until in infrared. There were lots of them, and they were positioning to use their long rifles and other guns.

  Move!

  She shifted from her hiding place and broke out into the open just as they started shooting. Streaks of light marked the passage of bullets and shells. Her hiding place vanished under the bombardment, though she wasted no time looking back. At least one thermal shotgun blasted great chunks out of the metal, leaving burning material embedded in its structure. Moving further inside the facility was her only way out of the battle, but it was the last area she wanted to be in if overrun. Better to retreat deeper inside than to be trapped out there and taken prisoner. She made it a dozen metres when another group emerged from directly ahead. Luckily, her carbine was at the ready, and she opened fire, surprising them as much as her. The Technos scattered, giving her a second to make a decision.

  Up, I go up!

  She ran past the nearest Techno who tried to block her path. Valentine was not a big woman, but she had momentum on her side, and moved right towards the figure, striking him with the carbine and leaping over the falling shape. It was a devastating hit and run attack, and she was gone before the figure hit the ground. She hit the bottom of the nearest staircase and ran for all she was worth. The steps were low and wide, and she ran fast enough to cover them two at a time. Gunfire chased after her, ripping up the metalwork, lighting up the space around her with flames and sparks. Even when a bullet glanced off her flank, she didn’t stop. She finally made it to the top and ran to the left, where a large open area led to what looked suspiciously like a bar area. There was a large space before it, along with upturned tables, chairs, and light coloured lights, all of which were broken and non-functioning. As before, the only source of light was the massive unit above that gave the place a dull blue glow.

  Here they come again.

  They were moving fast behind her, so much so she could hear their breathing. She lifted her carbine and aimed low along the top of the steps. One figure appeared, carrying some kind of firearm and wearing a Byotai helmet. She hesitated, suspecting it might be a friendly Byotai. Then as they came into view, she saw the ragged clothing and the second Techno right behind. They were there to catch or kill her. So she fired. The gun kicked back into her shoulder as the burst cut into the two targets. They fell back, landing among those running up from behind. Another shape appeared, but then arms appeared from the shadows, pulling at her.

  “With us!”

  The accent was thick, but before she could fight back, another pair of arms grabbed onto her carbine, trying to yank it from her body. Someone held her around the waist and stopped her from moving away.

  “Let me…go!”

  Sensing the end was near, Valentine pulled the trigger, and the gun opened up, firing a long burst into the crowd. One of her attackers howled,
but more arms grabbed at her. They were all around her now, but she refused to give up. Remembering her training, she released the gun, and it quickly moved from view. The Technos had been much more interested in her gun than her arms, and she used that opportunity to reach down and pull out the L52S Mark II assault pistol. The basic body was the same as the carbine, but everything else was reduced in size to make it little bigger than a pistol. The gun roared, and three Technos flew backwards.

  “Leave me alone!”

  She started screaming, but not in fear. This was a shrill scream of anger as more came running at her. Some carried guns, but most swung cudgels, short blades, and iron rods. Something hit her left leg, and she went right down onto one knee.

  Keep shooting.

  Something pulled at her gun, but she ignored it and snapped the gun back, firing two more bursts. More Technos fell, and then they were kicking and striking her. A metal bar hit her hard in the head, a blow that would have killed her had it not been for her armour. Hands were all over her, and then the gun vanished, yanked from her hands by so many arms.

  “No!” she screamed, “I won’t let you take me!”

  She held onto a bare arm, squeezed, and then snapped it back. Somebody cried out, and then they released. Sensing an opportunity, she punched and kept punching, but it was not enough. There were dozens and dozens of them, and even when she pushed them back, she was greeted by a small cadre of the armoured soldiers waiting at the top of the steps. Something hit her head, and this time she fell onto both knees. Somebody called out an alien command, and the Technos quickly separated. Through the gap she could now see the officer in his lavish attire, flanked by ivory soldiers, and carrying a long curved blade at his flank.

  “Alliance soldier. Surrender…or be executed.”

  His accent was reasonably easy to understand, but that did little to reassure her. He removed his helmet, and though she expected to see a clan warrior, it was clear and obvious that this was something different. He had the tall height and confidence of the clan warrior, yet the Byotai bony ridges and patina marked his face.

  A half-breed.

  Now that they were close, she had a much better look at their equipment. Much had been said back on the ship about some of the gear being used by this new enemy. What truly concerned her was that the fitment and look were very similar to her own. The only noticeable changes outside of colour were the ridges and edges giving them a more ceremonial appearance.

  “Our armour? Yes, we had help in the design. Your people are not entirely without merit.”

  “My people want nothing to do with you.”

  She tried to say more, but one of her captor pushed her forwards.

  “Your people have only been here for a generation, and yet you have spread everywhere. Do you know why?”

  Valentine knew she was in trouble, but something burned inside her. It was anger, tinged with pride. She’d fought alongside the Byotai and other races, but this Star Empire fought with a racist and xenophobic hatred of all others. She’d never come across anything like it before, and it left her feeling invigorated and powerful.

  “Because we are strong, dynamic, and don’t give a damn about people like…”

  Something struck her hard, and she slumped forward. Her vision faded in and out, but the suit did its job. The life support system pumped in adrenalin, quickly bringing her back and angrier than ever.

  “One day, my people will come to your worlds. And we’ll rain fire on every one of them.”

  The officer looked disappointed by what he could hear. This time he remained quiet and looked at her. As the seconds ticked away, more and more of the Technos separated, creating a space around her, apart from the two remaining at her sides. One of the ivory-coloured soldiers stepped towards the officer and held out her captured carbine.

  “Yes, your standard issue L52 carbine. We have many of these already, an interesting design. Over complex and difficult to maintain.”

  He then handed the weapon back to the soldier and took a step towards Valentine.

  “You have been left behind by your people. They do not care for…”

  An ivory-clad soldier flipped over backwards and vanished over the edge of the glass barrier. The soldier screamed for a couple of seconds, crashing to the floor in a sickening thud. The Technos watched in confusion, while the soldiers lifted their weapons and prepared to fight, spreading out to look for signs of the danger. Valentine lifted her eyes, and though she was sure she could see something, did little to draw attention.

  “You were saying,” Valentine muttered.

  Black shapes emerged from the shadows like demonic entities that existed only in the darkness. They moved gracefully and ever closer around the mixture of soldiers and Technos. They were swift and silent, impossible to spot by the enemy. Then a Techno yelled and fired a single shot. It served as a signal to the hidden attackers, who leapt into action with speed and violence, using their hands and weapons to disable their enemies in seconds. Valentine looked to her right where one of her captors grinned. She twisted at the hips and lifted her foot in a high snap kick. It wasn’t perfect, but it still hit him in the midriff and pushed him back.

  “Stay back!” said one of the shadows as it enveloped the man. For a second, she saw the female shape and the armour plates, and then it was gone again. One by one the soldiers fell until one managed to loose off a bullet. The hand-to-hand struggle quickly turned to a gunfight, but they were utterly outclassed. The black-clad warriors leapt between them, forcing the Star Empire soldiers to fire on the Technos. In less than a minute all but the leader and two of his soldiers were dead, or cast over the ledge.

  “Stop!” yelled the leader.

  His voice was panicked, and the next few words were in his own tongue. He struggled to say more in English, but fear rendered him almost incoherent. There were five of the black-clad figures, and they moved into a loose circle around the leader. His personal guards inched closer, their guns pointing at the attackers. Then one fired, and the fighting continued. A shot glanced off the black armour, and then they were in close, using pistols and machine pistols to cut down the two guards with ease. As they separated, there was just the Star Empire officer and Private Valentine facing each other. Around them were the bodies of the legionnaires and Technos that had stayed to fight.

  “Your choice,” said one the newly arrived warriors, “Surrender to us, or jump?”

  She withdrew a machine pistol from her flank and pointed it at the chest of the officer. He hesitated and turned his attention to Valentine.

  “Who are you?”

  One of the warriors moved closer and removed her helmet. Valentine gasped as long flowing hair dropped down over the shoulders.

  “I’m the one asking the questions. Now, answer my question.”

  The officer snorted in derision and glanced backwards, checking for signs of escape. There was the staircase, but another black soldier blocked it. The only other route was over the ledge and into the darkness.

  “Your worlds will burn for what you’ve done, puppet of the devil. In time…”

  The black soldier in front of him started laughing and completely drowned out the man.

  “No speeches. Decide, and then act.” Her hand moved to a pistol at her flank, “Or I will decide for you.”

  He turned and made to leap over the barrier. An arm caught him, while another struck the back of his head. He stumbled backwards and landed flat on the ground out cold. Private Valentine panted heavily, her chest pounding with the excitement and terror of what had just happened. Only when the figures moved out of the darkness could she finally get a better look at them. They were tall and elegant, clad in close fitting underarmour, and padded out with military-style armour over the top. Their chest plates were enamelled so that they looked slightly glossy, and yet protected the entire upper torso. The helmets were quite large, and the fronts black and smooth, and running from brow to chin. Artificial hair ran down from behind and hun
g over their shoulders.

  “Black Widows?”

  The soldier in the centre turned around so that Valentine could see her gleaming face. Valentine recognised her right away as one of the leaders of the infamous all female unit.

  “Syala Morgan of the Black Widows. Pleased to meet you.”

  The woman gave a mock bow, as though everything they’d just done was little more than a game to her. Valentine had only met them a couple of times, and her overriding impression was that they were very heavily equipped, and just a little out of control.

  “I…uh…what are you doing here?”

  Syala moved closer to the young Private. She was much older, yet her face remained youthful, and her face dripped with energy.

  “Private Valentine, isn’t it?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Good. Well. We have units involved all over the place right now. But today, I’m here for the same reason as you. All we need to do is figure out how to get you out of here before the rest arrive?”

  “The rest?”

  Syala laughed.

  “We sent additional distress calls from deep inside. The enemy knows there are people like you trapped here.”

  She was stunned at that.

  “What?”

  Syala appeared to be enjoying the confusion of the younger woman.

  “Yes. There’s an entire brigade of legionaries on this facility. And who knows how many Technos as well. Trust me, the Star Empire is heavily invested in this place.”

  “Why?”

  Syala licked her lips and nodded off into the distance.

  “Because we left a little surprise back here. And only now are they realising what we’ve done. You see. We never left.”

  Private Valentine looked at her in utter astonishment.