Hell Fighters from Earth

by William C. Seigler

  “He was visiting the alien last time I saw him, but that had to be a couple of hours ago.”

  “Visiting the alien? Did he say why?”

  “The little guy had gotten all excited, and he had to go and calm him down. I don’t mean to get ahead of myself, but some of the aliens on that ship may still be alive. But we’ll have …”

  “Alive! What are you talking about, and why the devil was I not informed?”

  “Sir, I’m sure the Commander will let us know what happened when he has some concrete answers. The alien was all wound up, and the CO could not get a word in edgewise. I’m afraid that’s all I know.”

  “All right, all right, I’ll wait to see what he has to say. That could change everything. Now, what do we have here?”

  Chief and the skipper were busy trying to figure out what had happened. Denver waited occasionally checking his and Fitz’s stations. After about another hour du Bois leaned back.

  “Chief, I may have it. One ship has moved in the line of the planets orbit but behind it. Another has moved ahead of the planet, but still in the orbital plane. The third is in line with the star and the planet, but outside the orbit while still in the plane,” observed du Bois.

  “Orbital mechanics is a bit out of my line sir,” said Chief.

  “It appears that they have moved into the libration points, or as they say on Earth, Lagrange Libration points.”

  “Which means?” asked Chief.

  “In a two body system there are places that are stable, that is you have to expend energy to get out of them. Once there they can hang out forever, now why?”

  The room went silent. Smith figured it had to be a combat configuration, but held his peace.

  “It’s got to be a defensive set up Chief. Why else do it? However, if they are defending against us, they should have covered L1 between the star and the planet. This looks like they still expect an attack from outside the orbit of the planet.”

  For the first time, he looked at Denver as though he was in the room and even part of the conversation. “Maybe they have spotted our jump ship.”

  “I guess it’s not impossible,” Smith replied.

  “Someone call a meeting without informing me?” demanded the Commander from the hatchway.

  “No sir, Smith spotted something, and we’ve been working to figure out what it is.”

  Fitz flopped down in his chair and yawned. “Sorry, what you got?”

  “Well sir, it looks as if they have moved to the libration points around the planet. One ship is at L2, a second at L4, and a third at L5. My guess is that it is a defensive posture.”

  “Looks as if they expect an attack from outside the star system. Hope they haven’t spotted our ride home,” said Fitz.

  “Yes, but if they had spotted us, they probably would have set up at L1 instead,” insisted du Bois.

  “Good thinking. Or maybe they are hedging their bets.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean they have a very fast ship whipping around behind us and they have the planet covered from every other possible angle. I calculate that in another six hours, they will clear the star. The two planets will cover us for a short while, but after that they have a clear shot at us.” Fitz paused to think.

  “Sir, the alien,” interrupted Denver.

  He stretched and rubbed his neck. “That. We have an entirely new situation now. You see, there are two aliens left alive down there. One is hurt and might not make it. The other is none the worse for wear and tear.”

  “Where are they being held?”

  “It seems that the enemy is assembling the components of a gigantic spacecraft. My guess is that it is a jump ship that will carry an armada. It’s docked with that low gravity world where they can turn it into a real threat without attracting too much attention. The Greys must have stumbled on it.

  “The alien craft is docked with it. They’ve left the aliens in their ship and are interrogating the one who remains in good health. They are after the in-system drive. He has been resisting, but he expects the fate of the others.”

  “This changes things, doesn’t it sir?”

  “Smitty, we are going to have to go in and get those guys.”

  “Is their ship still operational?”

  “I don’t think so. Apparently, they have been pulling off whatever they could.”

  Smith looked about the flight deck then at him. “Then we have to rescue the two who are alive, and blow up the ship.”

  “That’s enough Corporal,” said du Bois. “Sir, we’re supposed to find out what happened. Well, we seem to have done that.”

  “Then what?” queried the CO.

  “They’ll have to send in somebody.”

  “They have sent in somebody, us. If we try to get out now, they will know we’ve found them, and they will get away with the aliens and their technology. No, we’ve got to do it.”

  Denver spoke up. “Sir, if they can make this in-system technology work like they did the jump technology, then we are in real trouble. We’ve got to destroy everything and everybody at that facility.”

  “You’re out of line Corporal. We got what we came for and should get out with the information,” insisted duBois.

  Fitz glared at the Lieutenant. “The corporal is right. Whether or not we save the aliens, we have got to destroy both the alien ship, the giant Reptilian ship, and in case information has been shared with the other ships; they must be destroyed.

  “Now how long will it take to get there at max speed?”

  “I’ll make the calculation. It’ll take just a second,” said the skipper.

  The first officer wandered onto the flight deck. “Am I missing anything?” He leaned up against a console.

  “Sir,” interrupted Chief, “I’ve got something. It appears that there is something whipping around the star at incredible speed and way closer than I would want to get. Wait a minute, there’s another, and another. It seems that they have launched missiles, and they are trying to get a lock on us. Once they get past the close-in Jovians, we will be in trouble.”

  “Time till they reach us?”

  “At this rate, a couple of hours max.”

  The skipper spoke up. “If we take off at max speed now, we can be at the target planet in thirty minutes. Sir, I don’t think we are carrying enough missiles to fight our way in and then destroy that ship much less the battlewagons defending it.”

  “Battlewagons?” queried Smith.

  “As our predecessors were seafaring, it came quite natural to us. We did not know what the Reptilians call their ships so we gave them Earth warship names. It makes them understandable to us.”

  “Sorry, that’s an area I don’t know much about.”

  “Apparently, there are other areas you don’t know much about,” added the skipper.

  “That’s enough. We’ve got a job to do. Plot a minimum time course to target. Smith, get your people ready. Chief, ready the ship as we’ve discussed. Report to me when you are ready. Now go,” ordered Commander Fitzpatrick.

  As they stood, Fitz added, “Chief, you and Corporal Smith come with me.”

  After they left, the skipper spoke to the FO. “Well, that tears it. We have a five-star corporal and a ground pounder running the mission. We need to get in and out. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t sign up to get killed way the heck out here.”

  “Look, Cap, I would never disagree with you in front of that lot, but what choice do we have? There is no one else to send, and if those … things… get their hands on this technology none of us will be safe, not our comrades, our families, no one. We have to take them out.

  “Not to mention how it will look on your record if you are the guy having to be dragged along. Better to be the hero.”

  It was a long time before the skipper answered. “
Okay, you’re probably right, but how?”

  As they went down the hall, Fitz spoke up. “Okay, chief, what you got?”

  “This gun might actually work. There is one downside; there are only twelve rounds, and each has to be loaded individually. I’ve rigged a stock of sorts.” He held it up.

  “Just put your hand in here, only when you are ready to shoot, and press the trigger button.” He handed it to Denver.

  Guess I’m elected, he thought to himself. Then he realized he ,would not have it any other way. He broke it down like a shotgun, pulled it back up, and held it ready to fire. “Will it hurt anything to dry fire it?”

  “Huh?”

  “Pull the trigger to make sure the mechanism works.”

  “How will you know?”

  “Good question. Do I get any indication if the system is working?”

  “It shoots,” said Chief with a smile.

  They all laughed at this. “Well, I hope it works. It’s about like an M79 grenade launcher. No chance to test it?”

  “Where?”

  “Good question. In the Second World War, the Russians took a machine gun they designed out to the front and tested it on the Germans.”

  “How’d that go?” asked Chief.

  “They were on the winning side.”

  “We got anything else on this tub to shoot with?”

  “Now you’re talking nasty. This tub is going to haul your butt back to the transport ship so show a little respect, or you’ll find yourself walking home.”

  “Message received and understood Chief.”

  Fitz interrupted, “I’ve got my sidearm.”

  “Sidearm? What you got a 9mm?”

  “Fifty-caliber automatic.”

  “Ouch, better use both hands.”

  “How many rounds you got?”

  “Four magazines, seven rounds each.”

  “Not exactly prepared for a major invasion. Okay, boss, how you are planning to do this?”

  “Good question. I’m wondering how to get on board and get the people off without the aid of pressure suits.”

  “We can dock with the alien craft if we can get to it.” It was the ship’s captain. He handed each an oxygen mask.

  “If we start on the oxygen now, we should rid our bloodstream of nitrogen, in case we start losing pressure. I’ll lower the pressure in the cabin as much as seems safe, and we’ll secure all the bulkheads to minimize any damage.”

  Fitz smiled. “Sounds good.”

  “Are you familiar with the docking setup we’ve designed for the alien ship?” inquired Chief.

  “No, that would simplify things.”

  “If you’ve finished up here I’d like to show you.”

  “Good, Corporal get your men ready and get them in masks.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  * * * *

  Smith found his men, “Okay guys, out of your bunks.”

  “Oh man, I was just getting to sleep. Willy finally stopped snoring,” joked Tyron.

  “What is it man?” queried Jesus.

  “For starters, we’re being shot at.”

  “What!” Willy rolled out and landed on his knees.

  “Hang on. It’ll take a while for the missiles to get here, but I think our little secret is out.”

  Chuy swung his feet out onto the cold deck. “What are you saying?”

  “The lizard’s ship has not cleared the star, but apparently it fired a volley of missiles which are whipping around the star at a pretty good clip cutting a lot closer to the star than they would take their ship.”

  “How long do we have?”

  “About an hour and a half. I need everybody at their stations in fifteen minutes.”

  “Why so soon?” asked Tyron.

  “We are not going to wait for them to get here. We are going in. It’ll take half an hour to get there. We can expect a welcoming committee. The skipper wants us on oxygen now.”

  “Oxygen, what good will that do if they blow a big hole in the ship?” whined Willy.

  “If we depressurize, the nitrogen in your blood will expand and you will be immobilized with the bends.”

  “What?”

  “Just do it. We’re going into a fight and you’re wasting time. Each unit will be sealed off. You know what to do if yours loses pressure. I’ll be around to check on each of you in fifteen minutes. Get moving.”

  He left them bitching, but reminded himself that as long as the troops could bitch, they were okay. It is when they stopped that you had to worry.

  Chief was in a pressure suit but had not sealed it up yet. “Looks good on you chief,” joked Denver.

  “If we depressurize you’ll be laughing out the other side of your face.”

  “Ouch. Where’s my shootin’ iron?”

  “Over there.” He pointed.

  Denver found it and a makeshift bandoleer. “Nice, thanks, Chief.”

  “You’ll get my bill.”

  The FO announced, “All hands to the galley. Briefing in two minutes.”

  “Where’s Willy?” inquired Denver after the others arrived in the galley.

  “He’s having trouble with his mask,” answered Tyron.

  “Man.” He left and soon returned with the last of his team. The CO and the ship’s captain soon appeared.

  “Okay men, this is it,” began Fitzpatrick. He pressed a button, and the star system rose up above the table. This green dot is us. We are on a slow course around the star. Here is where we think the ship’s rounding the star is located. The red dots are the missiles they have fired at us.

  “Now here is the planet. What we have discovered is that two aliens are alive and are being held in their ship. The ship itself is docked with a gigantic warship that is apparently under construction, here. They have three ships in defensive positions, here, here, and here,” the Commander said, pointing as he spoke.

  “Within ten minutes we are going to leave at maximum speed, dock with the alien ship, and Corporal Smith and I are going to board the alien craft. We will then remove the aliens and plant the nuclear device we brought with us.

  “I expect heavy fire going in. Your gunners will get a workout. Corporal, save the big missiles for the enemy ships. When you get in range, let them have it.”

  “With pleasure.”

  “Of course, once we come up against the enemy, anything can happen, so stay sharp, and make your shots count. Questions?”

  He waited and looked around. “No questions, then everyone to stations.” There was general movement as everyone shuffled out of the tiny galley.

  The men took up their positions and Smith checked every one of them before he took up his own position. Now it is real. Something or somebody is going to die here in less than a half hour.

  “Chief, you ready?” asked the skipper.

  “Ready to go, sir.”

  “Corporal, your men ready?”

  “Yes sir, all gunners in position and ready to go.”

  “Commander Fitzpatrick, the ship is ready. Standing by for your command.”

  “All right, let’s do it. Full speed ahead.”

  Lieutenant du Bois raised the two red protective covers and pressed both buttons at the same time. Everyone felt a momentary queasiness as the ship accelerated and the ship’s field compensated for the shift to high speed. Within minutes, the planet was getting visibly closer, and they started to pick up the enemy battlewagons as tiny dots of light.

  Chief broke the silence. “The ship at L5 is launching missiles.”

  “How many?” asked Fitz.

  “Five, no seven, no twelve, no…, sir they just keep pumping them out,” replied Chief.

  “Does anyone know how many missiles that thing carries?” No one answered. Then the commander held his hand to his
head. “The alien says that Intel estimates something over 200.”

  “Joy,” whispered Smith. “Chief, how long till we see something?”

  “Within five minutes.”

  Denver spoke into his mic. “Okay guys, we are being shot at. You should see incoming targets within five minutes. When they get within five ‘klicks’ fire. Understood?”

  “With you boss,” responded Willy

  “We won’t let you down,” replied Tyron.

  “I’ll get the first one,” boasted Chuy.

  He watched the screen and knew when to expect something, but the first missile still caught him by surprise. All that was visible was a long orange tail of flame as the first missile fired from the port side. He and Fitz exchanged glances. More missiles lanced out from both sides now.

  “Chief, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” asked Smith.

  “Not exactly, I’m still on long range. Stand by. Now that’s interesting.”

  “What’s interesting Chief?” demanded the skipper.

  “Well, not all the missiles are headed directly for us. They’re setting up a big circular pattern and …”

  Suddenly all the incoming missiles exploded with a blinding light. “What tha’ …?” exclaimed the FO.

  “They all blew up!” exclaimed Fitz. “What went wrong?”

  “Nothing!” The pilot rolled the ship and pulled hard on the stick. The ship’s field generator had a hard time adjusting, so everyone felt thrown around in strange directions. Denver grabbed his seat, but his head contacted the top of his computer screen. In short order, he had radically changed direction.

  “Lieutenant ….?” Fitz began, but the pilot rolled the ship again.

  “Corporal, can you get a lock on that ship and fire a missile before they get off another volley?” demanded the skipper.

  “I’m a bit far to get a lock.”

  “Make it hot and fire on my command.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He had turned the ship out of the way of the expanding cloud of shrapnel rolling starboard. Now he nosed up and rolled back toward the enemy ship. From this position, the enemy appeared to be upside down and overhead. As the nose pointed directly at the enemy ship, he commanded, “Fire!”

  “One away,” answered Denver.