by Ronan Frost
The three natives scattered before the hail of projectiles. Myshia gasped as an explosive tipped bullet tore into her arm, twisting her savagely around as if someone had given her a shove. Blood flew as she hit the slabs of granite at her feet.
A whining zipped over their heads, and Ashian realised it was Shaun giving them some cover. The fire forced Gurhuin to take cover, giving the natives enough time to scramble for cover. Capac heaved at Myshia's prone form and dragged her into cover.
The female Eloprin gasped, her eyes fluttering with pain. Capac quickly tore apart her cloak and inspected the damage. Dismay lit his face as he saw her shoulder was a bleeding mass, her collar bone and humerus broken. White splinters of bone were submerged as blood flowed freely from the raw wound. Tearing shreds from his own cape Capac wrapped a tourniquet about Myshia's shoulder. He kept his head low as the gunfight continued between Shaun and their unidentified assailant.
Ashian knew that Shaun would never be able to reach them in time. The attacker was closing in fast and his bullets were chipping away the rock near his face. He bowed his head and drew his legs up around his belly as he began to pray.
Once Myshia had been seen to Capac cast about for a weapon. He swore as he saw he had dropped the Auras rifle and it lay in the open five metres from where lay. To the hunter, that five metres was a gap that could never be broached.
Myshia groaned as the pain bore down upon her, ripping her frail mind apart. Images danced and flashed before her eyes, her pulse loud in her ears. Light flashed and distorted sounds rebounded about the hollow cavern in her mind. Dark shadows lurched and soared above her head, flickering torchlight in a deep subterranean cavern.
Sudden power surged from the depths of her being, and her body convulsed in response. Reality was crushed like a sandcastle upon a beach, the looming presence of the wave teetering, falling, then crashing to the ground.
Capac's attention came back to Myshia as she screamed and beat at the rock. With every beat of her fists the very earth itself seemed to shake. Her cry was loud and wrenching, almost sexual.
A fierce gust of wind swept the land like a hot breath of air direct from a volcano, a peel of thunder crackling overhead.
Ashian was the only one to see the trooper fall. Gurhuin had just stepped from his cover, his Auras rifle raised to his eye, when the bolt of fire hit him. He was cast like a rag doll as the bolt hit in the belly and pushed him backwards, somersaulting crazily through air. The mighty A-squad warrior did not hit the ground. Instead, his flesh was disintegrated into ashes, demonic fire lancing through his open flesh. The wind picked up the black shreds and dispersed them - individual flakes drifting lazily to the ground.
Ashian could not believe his eyes. He stared blankly at the puff of fading smoke long after it had all but disappeared.
Myshia gasped, her eyes rolled up into her head but still seeing. Long minutes later she awoke to find Shaun and Capac's visage overlooking hers.
"Thank the gods!" said Capac, relief in his voice. "She's alive!"
She struggled to find her bearings but suddenly stopped with the throb of her shoulder wound. She fell back, and allowed Capac to retie the tourniquet.
The seasoned hunter froze as he unwrapped the bandage, for the wound had partially healed! Looking closer, Capac saw that although her shoulder was heavily lacerated, no bone projected. Deciding his mind must have misinterpreted the damage during the heat of the battle, Capac resettled the bandage and cleared his mind of the subject.
Myshia's being slowly filled the void of her body. It was an uncomfortable fit, as if her mind had been in another location other than her head.
Shaun was scanning the area and was relieved to announce no other troopers lurked in the surrounding trees and rocks. He came over to the natives once more.
"I'm sorry, but I had no idea one had sneaked around the back."
"It's not your fault," said Capac. "We should have been ready."
Ashian had joined the others. "W...What happened back there?"
Doubt clouded Capac's mind. "Shaun managed to shoot the Sunlord, didn't he?"
"Not I. I was still out of range, and was simply firing off a cover. Wild shots that were not intended to hit their target."
"Maybe a fluke shot...?"
Ashian shook his head in the negative. "I saw it just explode. No weapon on this planet could have done that."
"I don't know," put in Shaun. "It's possible a chance shot sparked the explosives stored in the trooper's pack. Some of those beasties can level an entire mountain."
"What are the chance of a shot like that?"
Shaun shrugged. "Slim, I must say, none-the-less possible."
A silent pall fell over the gathering as they turned their attention back to Myshia.
"She will live," concluded Shaun firmly after a though inspection. "I am reluctant to use the Hartrias medicines on her, for I don't know how your alien anatomy will handle it. I think she will recover in a day or so. How did she sustain this wound, Capac? She must have fallen upon a rock and grazed it, looking at those nasty grazes."
"That's what's so weird about this. I could have sworn she was shot."
Shaun shook his head firmly. "No, definitely not. A shot from a Scavala would have torn her arm off. Okay, it seems we survived that little skirmish. Ashian, you stay here and care for Myshia. Capac and I will go and inspect what remains of our android friend to see if we can salvage any weapons."
* * *
Lights on the console blinked erratically. Blocker, his mind racing with sudden panic, tapped commands into the keyboard.
The machine responded with a scrolling list of subdirectories that flew past too quickly to read. A whining alarm sounded overhead.
Captain Mahaur was alerted to Blocker's flurry of activity and rushed to the astrogator's side.
"What is it?"
Blocker did not take his eyes from the screen as he was aware of the captain at his shoulder. His fingers tapped quickly and without pause at the keyboard, trying to find the source of the computer's disorder. In moments he had brought up a 3-D display of the star system surrounding the battleship. Red points flashed, warning of a nearby presence.
Captain Mahaur's voice was hoarse and quiet with awe in Blocker's ear.
"My God! But how? We're still in jumpspace?"
A thin red line of script had appeared below the display.
HOSTILE FORCES IN SECTOR.
The Captain whirled on his heels and strode to the command chair. He did not seat himself but instead reached across and pulled a microphone to his lips.
"Enemy approaching!" his voice bawled over the loudspeakers throughout the vast space cruiser. "Red alert, I repeat, red alert. All crew into position and prepare for engagement."
Nearby, the tech controller had sealed all emergency doors and activated the weaponry systems. His face, like those of all the others, reflected confusion. How could they be under attack during jumpspace? They all knew that in jumpspace the ship's shields were inoperative; they were sitting ducks to any fire.
Astrogator Blocker's attention fixed to the console before him, his thoughts turning to the situation he suddenly found himself in.
The Sarthchild was an interstellar battle cruiser of the human Federation. Although somewhat dilapidated, she was built before the war and as a result made to last. Fitted out with huge rocket and laser turrets that were controlled by a sophisticated computer system she had earned respect in the battles against the Hartrias.
The Sarthchild was a stout and heavily armoured craft, her length just under two kilometres, her breadth a massive two-hundred metres. In her hold she carried crates upon crates of personal lasers, disassembled impulse cannons, land-to-space missiles and much needed spare parts. Her objective was to reach the frontier colonies, and with this new hardware ensure their survival.
The huge warpdrive, taking up near a quarter of the massive ship, carried them through jumpspace. And in that nothingness of jumpspace they
had been attacked. It was a physical impossibility.
Blocker's fingers flew over the keyboard, trying desperately to fathom the mystery.
"Hartrias fighters closing!" shouted the radar operator's voice. "Class four Sova-1 fighters...holy shit..." The operators voice trailed off for a minute until the Captain's command broke his reverie. "Hartrias Mothership closing fast!"
"Shields up!" demanded Captain Mahaur.
"Negative, sir. We've just dropped out of jumpspace and shields are still inoperative-"
The voice was cut off sharply as the floor jolted beneath them. A jet of white hot plasma streaked through space from the ports of the Hartrias battleship, delivering death to the many aboard the Sarthchild. The Federation battleship's flank rippled with electricity and fire as a chain reaction expanded through the decks.
Chaos reigned. The Sarthchild's hold shattered like eggshell with another blow from the Urisa mothership. The Sarthchild's spin about her axis was halted and the crew found themselves in sudden weightlessness.
Astrogator Blocker leapt from his chair, shielding his face from the spewing smoke that had suddenly filled the control room. He knew everything was lost.
The Hartrias Sova-1 fighters separated from the main craft and accelerated towards the stricken battle ship. The small fighter craft consisted solely of a huge engine with powerful lasers on either side, a canopy stuck on top for the single pilot a seeming afterthought. The instruments of death arced around and drove twin furrows in the decks of the Sarthchild.
Multiple escape pods shot from the Federation battleship, but did not last long before the Urisa's cannons picked them off in burst of yellow fire.
The Captain's voice rang through the steel corridors.
"All craft commence defensive manoeuvres! Launch all fighter craft!"
Red Eagle fighter pilots leapt into dark blue, almost black, helicasuits. Upon their helmets was the insignia of the Human Federation of Worlds - red upon black.
Great shudders passed through the Sarthchild's deck as machinery whirred and snapped into place. Most pilots never escaped the hangers as fire exploded at their feet and steel girders snapped overhead. A bare handful of Minnow fighters emerged from the flailing battleship.
Captain Mahaur bawled into the com link.
"Delta wing, report in!"
The radio crackled into life as a dozen of the pilots registered. The Captain's voice was brisk.
"Flightmaster Harker, defend the starboard flank until we can get the cannons up and running. The Hartrias seem to be concentrating their attack on that sector."
There was a slight pause as the transmission was relayed before Harker's voice came back.
"Roger that. Delta wing in defence formation."
Astrogator Blocker gasped suddenly as a group of shadows appeared on radar.
"Captain, Sova-1 fighters closing on the Delta wing!"
Blocker's words were like those of a prophet. A split second after his words the radio hummed with sudden static. A brief blip of voices emerged from that sea of chaotic static.
"...I've been hit, thermal reactor's shut down..."
"...need immediate cover fire. Repeat, Delta Leader to bridge cannon-"
The Captain swirled to the tech officer. "Cannons up?"
"Negative, we've come out of jumpspace way to fast. Give us fifteen seconds."
Captain Mahaur slapped his fist into the palm on his hand in sheer frustration. He ignored the calls of the flight engineer reporting the string of damages they were suffering.
"Arm cannons and fire at the Hartrias mothership as soon as they come online." Lights and warning beeps flashed about the control bridge, the deck beneath the Captain's feet trembling with vibrations as they rippled along the hull. "Astrogator Blocker, set a course into jumpspace - we can't take this punishment."
Blocker was almost speechless. "I...I don't understand it, Sir. It seems all routes in jumpspace are somehow jammed..."
"Don't be stupid, man! Set a course immediately or you'll find yourself spending the rest of your life in the blocks for insubordination!"
The Flight Navigator came to his aid. "He's right sir. All available jumptunnels are blocked."
The tech officer interrupted. "Cannons stand-by."
"Full power, maximum dispersion factor," ordered Mahaur. "Fire!"
The once massive battleship gathered its power together and armed its large bow cannons. In a final desperate effort a beam of yellow light sliced through space, disintegrating everything in its path.
Less than a kilometre from the Urisa's side the beam stopped, to be harmlessly dispersed over the Hartrias' electro-shielding.
"Blow deflected, Captain. Cannons re-arming..."
The tech officer spoke no further as a massive jolt shook the entire crew. The Hartrias ship delivered several raining blows from its plasma ports, the ultra hot gas rippling and destroying the hull of the Sarthchild.
Seconds later a torpedo spun lazily through space on a death-course to devour the powerless Federation vessel. It was the traditional Hartrias technique; stun the enemy with lasers then finish it with slower but more powerful ordinance. A terrible grinding jolt went through the ship's superstructure as the outer hull plating tore from the superstructure, almost ripping the Sarthchild in two. More fire followed, and the minutes remaining saw the last of stout old Federation battleship, now reduced to a husk of steel, the fires and explosions quickly lost and smothered by the void of space.
Chapter Seven
Respite.
Two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more
often and the more intensely the reflection dwells on them: the starry
heavens above me and the moral law within me.
- Immanuel Kant.
She awoke to find Ashian's face overlooking hers, the light swimming into focus as if she were underwater.
In that instant the memories hit like an avalanche. In a moment of sheer horror the Currach's face suddenly became that of the creatures that had beaten and whipped her. Memories of a childhood distant, tucked away in a dim recess of the mind. Unpleasant memories that surfaced, rearing their ugly heads like terrible beasts...
Myshia struggled out of her catatonic state as Capac shook her roughly by the shoulders. She closed her mouth, realising the banshee wail in the background had been her own screaming.
"Is she all right?"
Capac did not spare Ashian a glance. "She's coming out of it, now. Scroch, she had me scared."
"Where are we, and what happened?" asked Myshia. Her voice was hollow, sleepy.
"We're on our way to the landing ground, Shaun says we may be able to get aboard there."
Myshia nodded. "How long have I been out of it?"
Capac shrugged. "A few hours, no more. Oh, and don't worry about that shoulder - it'll soon heal."
Myshia raised her head and found herself in a bed of furs, Capac's hunting cloak thrown over the top of her. Thankfully, they were in deep forest once more and away from the cursed mountains.
Capac continued to explain their situation to Myshia. "We found a device on the android that Shaun fried. What was it...? Some sort of locater. He says we may be able to summon a Sunlord starship that will take us to the mothership."
"And once there - what then?"
Capac paused, then turned to Ashian. "Well, city-dweller?"
Ashian lowered himself tenderly to the ground into a cross-legged position. "I've been thinking," he began, "about what Shaun has told us of the Sunlord computers. It seems they control the ship - it is the very essence of the Sunlord army. If that could be somehow taken out..."
"No chance."
The natives turned as one to see Shaun step into the small clearing. The Earthman dumped the armload of firewood he carried down in a heap before elaborating. "It's been tried before. Sure, cracking in is not a worry, but the security on that baby has got to been seen to be believed. Yes, you're right about how it is the keystone to the
Sunlord's operations, and that is why the Sunlords keep it jealously protected. Besides, to get mainframe access you need to get into the nerve centre - practically under Avatar's nose."
"Avatar?"
"The name given to the Sunlord computer. It's so immensely intelligent it almost has a soul. Almost."
Ashian shivered with the thought. "A thing of metal and electricity can never inherit the blessing of life from the almighty Abas."
"Hey, I don't want to get into any theological arguments here," countered Shaun. "Besides, I stress the almost, for that beastie is too ruthlessly efficient to have emotions."
Capac spoke. "Are you saying if this Avatar goes down, the whole lot goes?"
"Pretty much so, but if that's your battle plan be careful. Avatar has eyes all over that ship."
"You're still not going with us?" questioned Myshia.
"No, way, I've done my duty according to the reg's. My job now is to get back to the Federation. Besides, sneaking back on board the craft I just escaped from after two years of captivity is not my idea of a good time. It's suicidal."
They sat over the remains of their dinner, plucking every morsel of available meat from the bones of the beast Capac had trapped. It was a small creature and its flesh tough, but it was enough to keep the resilient natives going. Shaun had popped the lid of a vial of tablets taken from leg pocket of his helicasuit to supplemented the alien food. With water, the pills alone could sustain him for weeks.
The night was cold and clear, the stars overhead distant cool specks of light. The large moon hung on the horizon, white and bloated, just above the treeline.
They rested in the shelter of the jungle, their small fire keeping the numbing coldness at bay, the wet wood burning with a feeble flame. It was with great difficulty that Capac managed to keep it going by using those branches high in the trees had avoided the thin blanket of snow laying over the land. But it seemed the blizzard was over as the snow grew dirty as it soaked into the humus of the forest floor, green shapes emerging from white. It promised to be a very cold night, the light wind chilling to the bone.