by John Walker
“It sheered that section of the ship. Good work, Redding. Didn’t completely avoid it but got damn close.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“There’s still one more.” Clea pointed. “And it’s after The Crystal Font!”
Gray moved over to Olly and patted his shoulder. “How long before shields are restored?”
“A minute or two at the most,” Olly said. “They’re on top priority.”
“Kale!” Gray called out. “You’re on your own with that last ship!”
“Understood,” Kale replied. “We’ll take care of it. Will you be okay?”
Clea looked at the scanner and felt a surge of excitement in her chest. They’d either disabled or destroyed the smaller ships, leaving only the final war ship combat effective. Orion’s Light was through, even if the marines didn’t destroy the base, they were done. The alliance eliminated the terrorist threat and ensured the safety of the home world during the final confrontation.
“We’ll be fine,” Gray answered. “Get that ship taken care of and let’s start bringing our people home. I’d like to get the hell out of here if it’s all the same to you.”
Clea took a moment to breathe, thinking briefly on all the carnage Krilan brought about in his short reign of terror. Had he been allowed to take control of the alliance, Fate only knew how bad things would get. The fact they took him out was a kindness to the galaxy at large and more specifically the kielan people.
You were a disgrace to us all. Good riddance, Anthar Ru’Xin. You dramatically outstayed your welcome in this life.
***
Hoffner positioned men on either side of the elevator, prepared for it to open. They knew three enemies were on board, trapped there since Rodriguez locked it down. The young private stood at the panel now, waiting for the order to open it up. They decided to give the trapped soldiers a chance to surrender.
Rodriguez brought the camera online and their quarry aimed their weapons at the door, expressions set in grim determination. Hoffner sighed and had him tap into the com. He leaned against the wall and spoke as gently as he could, hoping a soothing voice might win them over where a gun would not.
“We have the elevator surrounded. Please, set your weapons on the floor and put your hands over your heads. No one else has to die today.”
“Go to hell!” One of them shouted. “We will fight to the last breath!”
Hoffner noted that one in the back didn’t look quite so sure. Maybe he’s an ally. “I don’t think you all believe that.”
“We do!”
The twitchy guy started looking around. He had a trapped animal vibe which wouldn’t bode well for anyone. “We can drop the elevator to the sub level. You guys will have to be mopped up with a sponge. Come on, don’t make us do it. I’m not going to risk my people because you want to fight to the last breath.”
“Do your worst!”
“Wait!” Twitchy shouted. “Please, I don’t want to die!”
The zealous one cuffed him upside the head. “Shut up, fool! You will not surrender to these animals!”
“Don’t hit me!” The three men began to brawl, struggling with their weapons while punching and kicking one another. Hoffner shook his head.
“Jenks, Walsh, get ready.” Hoffner patted Rodriguez on the shoulder. “Open it up.”
The doors slid open. The marine sergeants opened fire. The three bodies hit the ground, still clinging to one another in their fight. Hoffner glanced in and nodded for the demolition team to come forward. “We have plenty of room to get the fire team down there as well. Walsh, you hold the fort up here. Jenks, you’re with me. Lhar?”
“We will secure our way out of here,” Lhar said. “We need a path to the shuttles and they’re not here yet.”
“Sounds good.” Hoffner boarded the elevator with six people. “See you soon, gentlemen. Let’s blow something up.”
Scans indicated there were people still lingering around in the power center but not many and they were in a state of chaos. Likely, these were technicians, not soldiers, not even of the zealous variety. Still, Hoffner gave orders to shoot on sight. As they plunged deep into the asteroid, he prepared himself for a wild scene.
And as the doors opened, he was proven right.
The equipment down there worked thanks to chewing gum and prayers. Orion’s Light didn’t seem to have the best of the best but they knew enough to keep things chugging along. As the marines piled out into the vast chamber partly rock and partly metal, they saw the various technicians working on terminals.
Jenks directed his men and they opened up. Three soldiers died instantly while another managed to get his gun out and fired back. Hoffner felt a hot sting in his side just below his ribs just before the wind got knocked out of him. He coughed, pressing his hand against the offended wound. Blood slicked his glove as he looked up.
“Captain?” Jenks shot the guy in the head, dropping him to the floor before hurrying over to Hoffner and grabbing his arm. “Sir? Are you alright?”
“Get…the demolition…crew…going…” Hoffner felt his legs giving out, knees weakening. His helmet indicated he’d taken a round that lodged itself just inside his ribs, near his lung. He struggled to remain aloft but found it difficult, finally succumbing to lean against Jenks. “I’m…we have to…hurry.”
“Medic!” Jenks called out. “I need a medic here now! Plant your charges, guys! We’ve got to move!”
Someone began to attend his wound, pressing something cold against it. “This will stop the bleeding, sir.” He didn’t recognize the person’s voice. His throat went dry and he blinked several times, trying to clear a haze from his vision. It didn’t work. “Just don’t move for a moment. Let the pain meds kick in.”
“I’m…thirsty…”
“Makes sense but don’t worry about it. Your body’s trying to go into shock. I’m forcing it not to.”
“We’ll get you out of here, sir.” Jenks spoke firmly. “Just hold on! Do not die on us down here! I won’t allow it.”
“Giving…orders…sergeant?”
“Yes, sir. I am.” Jenks gripped his forearm tightly. “And you will follow this one. Do you get me?”
“I…get you…” Hoffner couldn’t muster much more enthusiasm. His heart hammered in his chest, his skin turning clammy. The pain subsided but he didn’t feel like he could walk. God, they’re going to have to carry me out of here. How embarrassing is that.
“Charges are set!” Michaels shouted. “We’re ready to move!”
“Help me with Captain Hoffner,” Jenks shouted. “We’re going! Lhar, have you secured our exit yet?”
“Met some minor resistance near the hangar,” Lhar replied. “They were trying to flee as well. Turns out they didn’t have any fight in them. Meet us over here right away. Shuttles are incoming now. Better hurry though.”
Michaels took one of Hoffner’s arms and draped it over his shoulder. “Bombs are set for ten minutes so we have to haul ass.”
Jenks nodded, hoisting the captain up and onto the elevator. As it started up, the men seemed particularly restless. No one wants to be trapped in one of these when those bombs go off so I get it. I wonder if we’re going to make it out of this one. Something tells me…my luck’s run out.
The elevator opened and the men dragged him off down the hall. People were screaming off in the distance, terrified soldiers working for Orion’s Light with no leadership and no idea of what to do. Many of them didn’t deserve their fate yet they were being forced to it nonetheless. Conscripts paying for their master’s sins.
Damn shame…
They arrived at the hangar to the sound of gunfire. The kielans engaged another group of troops but this was single sided in a major way. Hoffner looked up in time to see three men go down, bullets riddling their bodies and heads. Another one turned his weapon on himself and the final one ran for the door, taking a shot to the back.
I can’t believe they’re even trying anymore.
�
�Shuttles are here,” Lhar said. “Landing now. What’s the time?”
“We have four minutes left,” Michaels said.
Has it really been six minutes? Should I say only or already? Time…is really moving.
“Why the hell didn’t you set it for twenty?” Jenks said. “Ten minutes is cutting it damn close!”
“Hey, I thought we’d be fine! Besides, I didn’t want someone to tamper with them!”
“Seriously? You think these yahoos could’ve disarmed your shit?”
“Guys,” Walsh interrupted. “Now’s not the time.”
The shuttles burst through the shield and performed a hot landing, spinning in place as both boarding ramps dropped. Jenks and Michaels dragged Hoffner aboard and secured him in one of the seats as the other marines filed in behind them. The pilot called out for them to hold on and he slammed the throttle down to full to exit.
Hoffner sucked air through his teeth from the pain of the safety strap digging into his side and he nearly blacked out. The base shrank behind them and he managed to lift his head to watch as the bombs went off. A spectacular light show filled space as the entire facility was consumed by orange and gold fire.
“That was too damn close,” Jenks muttered. “But way to go guys.”
“Told you we had it,” Michaels said. “We’re good y’all!”
Jenks nodded. “Let’s celebrate when we get our wounded back to The Behemoth and know we’re safe. Job’s only half done if we don’t get home.”
I agree with that…just wish I could say…anything. Hoffner felt consciousness slip away. Blackness gripped the edges of his vision and he succumbed, flopping against the chair. Sensation vanished, the rumble of the ship was gone and he felt himself floating…disembodied…lost…
***
Alma flipped her ship around to avoid a pair of enemies trying to ram her. They jetted past her, nearly colliding with one of the bombers in their mad attempt to grab a kill. She casually tossed some missiles their way. They’d committed to their ram attack to the point that neither even tried to perform an evasive maneuver. Each exploded and winked out a moment later.
Wena’s voice came over the com, “all fighters and bombers fall back from the attack zone. I repeat, fall back. There’s a chance for major shockwave and you will not be able to weather it. Go!”
Alma turned and burned, not wasting a moment to clear the kill zone. Behind her, the enemy floundered about with their meager defenses but they did not pursue. The various other ships joined her and they got well clear of any potentially damaging results from the explosion The Crystal Font anticipated.
“Alma, this is Pointer,” Meagan’s voice came over her com. “You still alive?”
“Of course,” Alma replied. “You were with us, right? Defending the bombers?”
“Yeah, your guys put on a spectacular display. Good work tearing through those enemies. I’m impressed.”
“One got away,” Alma said. “I’d love to catch up with him. In fact, here’s his signature.”
A moment later, Meagan cursed. “That’s the bastard who led us to The Final Star…he got David killed!”
“He’s good…a foul pile of filth, but definitely a professional flyer. Not like these other fools.”
Meagan hummed. “Want to go find him?”
“Of course I do.” Alma smirked. “You’re in on this?”
“Let’s go.” Meagan formed up on her wing. “Set scanners wide. We’ll have to net him if we want to track him down.”
The two pilots broke ranks and headed back toward the smoldering crater that used to be the Orion’s Light base. Alma didn’t even see the explosion she was so busy and no one announced it over the com. Seeing the wreckage let her know that they’d won, their objectives were complete. One more military vessel and a particularly good pilot…and they’d be done.
“I think I’ve got him on scans,” Meagan said. “Yes, I do. He’s hiding out at one of those little defensive platforms we were taking out on the other side of the sector, see?”
Alma looked at the data and scowled. “So he is. Let’s deal with this. Now.”
“Be careful. I’m pissed too but let’s treat this guy with some respect. I don’t fancy getting shot down after all we’ve been through.”
“Believe me, I agree with you whole heartedly but he has to pay for all he’s done today.”
The two pilots hit their after burners, screaming toward their destination. Com traffic came through. Wena asking Alma what she was doing and where she was going. She sent a text message back that she was backing up one of the Earth ships and would be back shortly. Presumably, Meagan did something similar but neither spoke about it.
As they approached the defensive platform, their target started moving, this time away from them. Fleeing again? You cowardly little bastard. Wait. He’d already lured Meagan and her team into a trap. What could he possibly have up his sleeve this time? There were no other ships to use. Except…
“There may be an active defensive platform around here,” Alma said. “Do you have anything on scans?”
“I don’t,” Meagan replied. “But he can’t be going far. If there’s nothing else out here…”
Alma pinged the pilot, hailing him for a conversation. A few moments passed before he answered her, coming live on her com traffic.
“Hi there.” The man chuckled as he spoke. “I guess you two were pretty mad, huh?”
“You’ve caused enough trouble,” Meagan said. “Give it up. There’s nothing out here. No more tricks for you to pull.”
“Maybe I just want you to go on a little chase before you get your prize, hm? You’re not exactly the best your culture has to offer. Work for my kill.”
Alma’s brows lifted. “Indeed. We could just leave you out here. A small, one man fighter won’t get far. You can suffocate alone or die like a warrior. Your choice.”
“Such a choice. What’re your names?”
“What’s that matter to you?” Meagan asked.
“I like to know who I’m fighting.”
“Welcome to curiosity,” Alma said. She checked her targeting computer and noted she was at extreme range. She squeezed the trigger, letting off a burst. It didn’t come close to hitting but he got the point as he initiated an evasive maneuver.
Meagan pinged her, indicating they had a private channel. “I’ll bank left, you keep going straight. Fire again on his right. Get him to turn. I’ll tear open his top side.”
“Affirmative.” Alma pushed her ship for a little more speed and she was pressed painfully into her seat. Meagan tore off to the side. As they moved into position for their attack, the assumption was their quarry would keep a steady course but suddenly, he banked to engage Meagan, heading straight for her.
Alma fired again, trying to get his attention but he didn’t falter and wasn’t hit. Still, she was able to close the distance between and get into range for his tail, working on a firing solution.
Meanwhile, he fired at Meagan, narrowly missing.
“I guess he didn’t like our plan.” Meagan dove and he followed, trying to keep up. Alma pursued, holding on to his tail. Her computer got tone and she fired again but he dodged to the side and the blasts came dangerously close to her team mate.
“Fates! He’s very good at this!”
“I’m going full evasive,” Meagan said. “Let’s see if we can’t shake him loose.”
But even as the Earth pilot pulled off some of the fanciest flying Alma ever witnessed, their opponent managed to keep up with her, maintaining his distance. He never fired a shot and Alma realized what he wanted. He hoped she might end her friend for him and then even if he died, he won.
Nothing would be worse than taking out a friendly.
Interesting tactic. Alma looked at the scanner and plotted a course back toward the platform he had been hanging out at when they found him. She sent it to Meagan with a text message indicating she should buzz that tower. The moment Meagan started back for the de
stination, Alma broke off from her target and spun around, making look like she’d totally disengaged.
“What’s the matter?” His annoying voice came over her com. “You giving up?”
Alma ignored him, preparing her plan. She needed to close a distance quickly if she hoped to succeed and the timing might be impossible considering the speeds they were flying. The bastard finally started shooting when he didn’t have a tail but Meagan frustrated his efforts, continuing toward the platform.
As she drew closer, Alma closed rank on them quickly and targeted the platform. Meagan buzzed it and the second she went by, Alma fired, tearing through the floating outpost and finding its reactor. The enemy pilot flew right by it as the thing exploded, the shockwave knocking him off course and out of control.
“Now!” Alma shouted. Meagan flipped around and they both fired in unison, connecting with the top of his ship as he tried to regain control. His shields flickered out and the entire craft burst into flames and winked into a massive explosion. “Yes! Congratulations!”
“I can’t believe that worked! Well done!”
“You were under the gun there,” Alma said. “I’m just glad he continued on the same course. That filth was unpredictable, to be sure.”
“Come on, I think we both have an ass chewing to endure.”
“I’m…not familiar with that phrase.”
“Disciplinary action?”
“Ah…those I’m quite familiar with.”
Meagan chuckled. “I’m sure you are.”
***
Deva turned to Kale to give her report. “The other military vessel hit The Behemoth. Even with a graze, the damage was pretty bad and there’s the one left that we’re dealing with. They are at seventy percent recharge and it’s getting faster. I estimate they’ll be able to fire in less than thirty seconds.”
“Do we have time to get close and shoot them, Athan?” Kale asked. “Or should we be falling back?”
“It won’t help,” Deva said. “We’re not far enough away right now and we can’t get far enough away in the time left.”
“Bombers are about to fire,” Thaina said. “That should distract them.”