Enemies on All Sides (Maraukian War Book 4)

by Michael Chatfield

  “We need to take these key positions.” She highlighted server farms, busses, or different systems that kept the ship running. Although they had decent control of the ship right now, they were fighting against firewalls. If they could get in at the source, then they would be able to gain a greater control of the ship that would be hard to interrupt.

  The others all understood and agreed to her orders.

  “All right, let’s move out,” Ava said to those around her.

  They started moving forward. Their mono-blades cut through the ship as they covered one another with their M20s. They didn’t run down corridors but cut a straight path to the different key areas.

  Rounds cut down a corridor as they ran into a group of stunned security personnel.

  The mergers spread out, flinging themselves out of the line of fire as they brought the other group under fire. No one was wounded but they’d taken a few hits to their armor. New scars formed as they kept on advancing.

  Ava had a cold feeling. Their actions proved that they weren’t human anymore. They walked through vacuum without fear and bent metal back by just moving forward. Their reactions were so fast that it defied logic.

  They were built to kill Maraukians; humans weren’t their opponents anymore.

  It was odd and scary. Scary because if someone got this kind of power and wanted to kill humans, then it would be only too easy.

  It chilled her heart thinking about it, but she also knew the kind of testing and training that everyone had been put through looked to remove those kinds of people.

  A defensive position appeared around the air reclamation center they were looking to take.

  Instead of charging forward, they cut through the floor, going a deck lower and then fired up, killing the unknowing defenders before they opened up the air reclamation center and climbed through the twisted metal.

  Chapter One Hundred

  LMFC Crusader

  Oort Cloud, Emarl System

  10/3557

  “They just came through the wall!”

  “Kill them! Kill them all!” Tameesh yelled. His anger had reached the point that he was going mad.

  The Vanguard moved through the ship as if they owned it. They cut through walls and rarely confronted Tameesh’s forces straight on.

  The freighter was massive and he couldn’t cover everything. He had laughed when he saw that there were people trying to board his ship.

  That arrogance had turned into fear. That black armor was the thing of nightmares.

  Suddenly, all communication cut off.

  “We’re cut off from the rest of the ship.” The communications officer looked to Tameesh.

  Tameesh slammed his hand against his chair again and again in frustration and fear. “Fuck fuck fuck fuck!”

  The others in the command center could only look on with pale faces.

  The mergers were unstoppable, and invisible to the internal sensors of the ship. Key systems fell one after another as the ship came under their control.

  Fear and unwillingness filled their eyes.

  Tameesh looked over to the command center door as it opened on its own. His actions paused as the air rushed out of the command center. He was torn from his seat and slammed into a console. Others in the room were pulled away as all of the air locks across the ship opened up and the ship explosively decompressed.

  Sections were ripped away by the force and reactors that had been exposed started to melt through the ship.

  Captain Tameesh dropped to the deck as silence fell over him.

  Thankfully, his space suit had deployed in time.

  Others had died from the decompression, dead in their seats or flying through the bridge as the gravity had been turned off.

  People shot backward as holes appeared in their suits.

  Tameesh’s blood turned cold as he looked at the door. His last sight was seeing the Pluto-armored Vanguard entering his bridge as their M20s fired, killing everyone inside.

  ***

  Ava entered the command center behind the clearing section.

  The mergers checked everyone was dead and got to finalizing their control. Ava let out a breath. Once aboard the ship, they’d owned it. The last sections of the ships were clarified as the remaining Luyten forces were revealed.

  “Hahn, secure the final remaining forces,” Ava ordered.

  “Yes, Lieutenant,” Hahn said.

  Ava looked to where Warrant Lundy was stationed, with two sections of mergers watching over some three hundred prisoners.

  Her eyes fell on Captain Tameesh. He’d ruthlessly killed anyone he didn’t know, or ejected them into space—nearly two hundred thousand people. The ship had only been running on a skeleton crew.

  She had no mercy for them. In her mind, they had all chosen to kill their fellow crew members.

  The mergers coordinated perfectly together. They’d separate their enemy with air locks and then appear behind them or shoot through walls to kill them.

  It wasn’t a battle; it was a slaughter. Drop-ships brought over troopers to help and secure the prisoners.

  The fleet had attached towing cables to the rear of the freighter, reducing its velocity away from the Emarl system.

  There was no way anyone could escape anymore.

  “Forward sections report the ship is secure,” Katch informed Ava, her voice blunt and cold. None of them felt good about the fight they had just gone through. They felt dirty, but they’d succeeded and the loss of life hadn’t been high.

  “Captain Victor, this is Bravo Company. Target One is secure,” Ava reported.

  “Understood. Start shifting prisoners to Target One. Target Two is under our control and should be cleared shortly,” Mark said.

  “Understood,” Ava said.

  Kela pulled up information on the remainder of the Luyten fleet and the Emarl fleet that was hunting them down.

  Chapter One hundred and One

  The Yard

  Ark Orbit, Emarl System

  10/3557

  Eight days ago, the two escaping freighters were secured and the fleet started to drag them back into the Emarl system.

  Nine days ago, the Emarl fleet and Luyten fleet met each other face-to-face.

  Tomorrow, the Luyten fleet would get into range of the Yard.

  Jerome had already evacuated all but military personnel from the Yard toward the station.

  The main Emarl fleet had been attached to their supply ships, reloading as they created a screen force.

  When the Luyten fleet came in, the Emarl fleet came in at an angle and was accelerating hard so that when the Luyten fleet changed their course, they didn’t have as much momentum as the Emarl fleet and easily changed their course and started to build up speed for the Yard.

  The Emarl fleet had to fight their momentum, and start powering on a new heading, running on the inside of the Luyten fleet.

  They were slowly coming closer and closer together but Hall didn’t directly charge at them as they would be in the same problem of needing to course correct and come back at them.

  If things went poorly, they wouldn’t be able to assist the Yard, or the Luyten fleet could turn in toward Tricticus, leaving the system open for them to attack and flee.

  The Yard was meant to be the anvil, with the fleet being the hammer that pushed them toward the other.

  Still, they didn’t know what the Luyten fleet would do once they got closer to the Yard and Ark.

  It was starting to reach the last hours now as the Emarl fleet started to close in on the Luyten forces.

  Jerome sat down heavily in his conference seat.

  Hall, Nerva, and Ortiz were already there.

  “Now that we’re all here, let’s get started,” Hall said.

  “It looks like the Luyten fleet is going to try and pass by the Yard. Their speed is really high and it will be hard for them to break, unless they get closer to the Ark and use the planet to decrease their speed. My aim is to force them into the Praet
or cannons and missile systems. The fleet is closing in on them. We are pressuring them from the side but we will intercept them high and fast, hopefully forcing them down and to the starboard, right into the Yard. I want to crush them here, which means we can’t use the cannons and missiles until they’re in our net, or it looks like they might escape our engagement envelope. RSD forces in the Crucible will launch and try to further pressure the Luyten fleet by meeting them head on.

  “The Yard will be using all of its defensive systems available, to make us a harder target to hit and making them want to come in closer to get clear hits on us,” Jerome said.

  The plan was clear: they might need to sacrifice the Yard to draw the Luyten fleet into the weapon systems range; then they’d hit them from every direction possible.

  “The forces at Tricticus are ready and waiting in case the Luyten fleet heads for the planet,” Ortiz said.

  “The second fleet led by Captain Chen is moving directly toward Tricticus at their best speed to support you if needed,” Hall said.

  They all looked at one another.

  “Seven hours to go,” Nerva said.

  They had planned, talked, and gone over every single detail of this plan over the last couple of weeks. Now it was upon them.

  “Good luck, everyone,” Hall said.

  They stood and cancelled the conference call.

  Jerome looked around at the Yard through the screens that were linked to different sensors across the Yard.

  It had existed for nearly two hundred years, but now it might be destroyed in just a few hours by people blinded by greed.

  “One more time.” Jerome patted his chest where a picture of Esamai and Tyler lay before he grabbed his helmet and left the conference room.

  Chapter One Hundred and Two

  LMFC Righteous

  Inner System, Emarl System

  10/3557

  Everyone was looking at the Yard with cold eyes.

  They had taken severe losses, and they were now down to nearly two-thirds of the strength that they had entered the system with.

  The Emarl ships had proved that they were not easily dealt with and that they had a greater overall combat strength than the Luyten ships.

  Strong had taken firm command and Karain was stuck in a pit of despair.

  Thankfully, they had made some changes to their plan. It was clear that they wouldn’t be able to take the planet Tricticus, but they had all of these trained fighters aboard their ships and they hadn’t put them to use, so Strong came up with a plan: they board the Yard with their people and then leave them behind.

  After all, they were a liability. They were trained how to fight, which meant if they took them back to the Luyten system, then, like the EMF who had retired there, they could cause a great number of problems.

  They were still a few hours away from hitting the Yard, but the Emarl ships would get in the first attack.

  “Fighters are being released from the Luyten ships!” the sensors officer called out.

  Karain braced herself while Strong had a solemn look on his face.

  There weren’t many of the ships left, but each of them had cannons that could tear their gliders to shreds and then anti-matter missiles that could affect even the massive freighters.

  “Release the gliders,” Karain said.

  Ships were spat out around the freighters, forming up into groups, ready to engage the fighters and aid in defensive fire against incoming missiles.

  “We’ve crossed into the Emarl’s engagement range! They’re holding their fire.” The tension racked up in the command center.

  Karain and Strong looked at each other, sharing a thought. They’re coming in closer so that they know more of their hits will land.

  The Luyten ship’s range was limited and it meant that they were playing to the Emarl ship’s tune.

  Nothing happened as the two behemoths edged closer and closer together.

  “Ready to present broadsides and burn,” navigation called.

  “Execute.” Karain’s back was covered in sweat as she waited for the oncoming slaughter.

  The ships turned their sides toward the Emarl fleet and then moved away from them toward the planet below. Their angle took them away from the Yard more but would allow their guns to all bear on the Emarl ships. They didn’t have quality but they had quantity in boatloads.

  “Firing missiles and cannons!” weapons called out as the Luyten ships opened up, firing into the path of the Emarl ships. They were all forced into their chairs by the high gravity maneuver.

  “Luyten ships are firing and moving to adjust their course! They’re deploying their full acceleration!” sensors said.

  Karain looked straight ahead as adrenaline coursed through her system.

  The weapons fire intersected and the two ships started to take hits.

  “Hits on the LMFC Bastion.”

  Karain was rocked with the attacks as the gliders and fighters intersected.

  “Bastion is rotating,” sensors said.

  Karain let out a breath between her teeth. The only reason the ship would be rotating was to spread the damage over more of the ship’s remaining armor.

  The rounds and missiles savaged the two fleets as they were just about to reach each other.

  “Course correction ended. Returning to original course!” navigation said.

  Moments later, the two forces met. Karain was thrown against her harness as the two fleets unloaded everything they could on each other.

  Space around them was filled with explosions that tore at the void, crippling ships and removing fighters and gliders from existence.

  Ships were hit so fast they didn’t have time to react. Terrifying seconds passed that humans couldn’t even comprehend other than shattering fear as they didn’t know whether they would survive or be savaged by the destruction that rained on them.

  Then they had crossed each other and the two fleets continued to fire on each other.

  Karain looked at the reports.

  Four more ships had been destroyed; sections of them were still falling apart. Ships were streaming atmosphere, with sections of their hulls ripped open.

  The Luyten fleet was a savaged group of ships, covered in battle scars.

  Karain looked around the command center. People were groaning and crying out as they’d been hurled around by the impacts that had landed on the ship.

  One person whose harness had failed was screaming as their legs and arm were bent at unnatural angles.

  Karain didn’t spare them a second glance.

  “Navigation!”

  “We’re on course for the Yard,” navigation managed to spit out, their face white as a sheet.

  “Prepare all of our landing forces,” Strong said.

  “Get as many guns up and ready to fire and prepare to fire all of our remaining missiles,” Karain yelled at guns, adrenaline still rushing through her body.

  Chapter One Hundred and Three

  The Yard

  Ark Orbit, Emarl System

  10/3557

  “Come on, you dumb bastards. Come in nice and close.” Jerome looked at the command table in the center of the Yard’s command center as if coaxing the ship on screen.

  Gliders were moving from the broken ships to those that were still operational in the Luyten fleet.

  “Looks like not all of the gliders are going back into the freighters,” Nerva said. He was in charge of the troopers on the station to provide backup for the different defensive systems that dotted the Yard.

  “What are you thinking?” Jerome asked.

  “I’m thinking that they’re going to try to board us.” Nerva’s mouth rose into a cruel arc.

  “Oh, I fucking hope they do.” Jerome pressed a button on the command table. “All hands, this is Commander Jerome. Prepare to put the Yard into defensive posture!”

  Across the Yard, different lights started to go off as people moved to the secure rooms that were built for if there was an e
mergency.

  The screens inside had been changed to show tactical displays of the space around the Yard. Consoles appeared, directly connected to defensive systems that were revealed as armored sections moved back.

  Nerva laughed. “I knew that you and Mark wouldn’t make anything without at least some firepower.”

  “Of course not!” Jerome said as the hulls of ships that were being worked on were removed by tugs. Hydraulics across the Yard started to contract.

  The Yard looked as if it were shrinking, section by section.

  “Once in its defensive posture, the emergency rooms will be in the middle of the Yard, using the rest of the Yard as armor and covered in defensive systems, it’s one hell of a nut to crack,” Jerome said.

  “That’s being kind,” Nerva said as the EMFCs around the Yard started to move. Most of them were in the midst of upgrades and some hadn’t started yet.

  They surrounded the Yard, linking their defensive systems together and aiming their weapons at the incoming Luyten forces.

  It didn’t seem to deter the Luyten fleet in the slightest.

  It took roughly an hour for the Yard to compress and the ships to get into position.

  “Luyten ships are firing,” Nerva said.

  “Got it.” Jerome hit a channel, linking him to the different EMFCs and the emergency rooms. “Defensive systems linked and on automatic. Pick targets of opportunity.” He closed the channel. “I hope that those new targeting servers are as good as the mergers made them out to be.”

  “Don’t let Charles hear you say that,” Nerva advised.

  Jerome snorted and shook his head.

  The Luytens weren’t messing around. They’d presented their broadsides, firing everything on one side; on the other, they were spitting out all of their gliders, massing them together.

  The wave of incoming fire wasn’t impressive; it was terrifying.

  The defensive rail guns spun up and started to fire tracers out into the heavens, creating streams of fire that hunted down missiles. Explosive shells fired out; packed with anti-matter, they destroyed incoming rail gun rounds and cleared sections of the sky.