The Vanguard Emerges (Maraukian War Book 2)

by Michael Chatfield

As soon as they were through, her men lay fire to the open doorway, destroying the stadium’s finery and structure. If the Maraukians wanted in, they’d have to also demolish it.

  Everyone else from the city was safe. Now it was time for them to get out or get slaughtered. There were no other options here.

  For a brief moment, Quina wondered why the hell she was even in command. Her hand shook just as much as the young girl’s, which she held on tightly to.

  But then that thought drifted away. She knew she was there to take the flack when things went wrong. Just like they were going wrong, right now.

  A woman approached her, holding out an arm. “Let me take her.” Her face and red hair were covered in dust and her clothes tattered and bloodied.

  Quina looked to the young child. “We’ll be with your mother soon,” she said. “Go with this lady. She’ll protect you.”

  Yet the young girl clung on tighter and the woman practically had to pry her away.

  “Maraukian breach!” she heard Xiao cry out, then the sounds of heavy rounds behind them.

  Quina turned, her HUD making out the Maraukians breaking through their defenses and heading their way.

  This was going to be the closest call they’d ever had.

  “Defense wall!” she shouted, but her men were already taking up stances to protect her and the others citizens who cowered behind her.

  Quina’s heart melted all the more, seeing the woman and girl move away back to the center of the civilians.

  Fully focused on the task she had now, Quina looked to her second. “How many rounds do you have left?”

  Xiao checked. The lines on his face said everything. “Not enough.”

  Quina glanced up as a shuttle inbound started its descent, the cries of the young girl still heard over the din.

  Xiao nodded at the shuttle with his chin. “It’s not big enough, you know that, right?”

  Quina laughed, and met his gaze with her stony one. “Did you really think we’d ever make it off this planet?”

  Xiao grinned and pulled his rifle to his shoulder. “No, Legate.”

  Following his example, Quina locked her weapon in place. Knowing she was also deadly low on rounds and focusing in on the Maraukian monsters headed their way, Quina opened fire, cutting into their ranks with a vengeance. “As long as they get out, I can live with that.”

  ***

  Dansk reported each maneuver as she was supposed to but it grated on Ergo’s nerves. Called to evac their fair city, he’d come out of retirement to help. Not expecting to be people’s last hope for survival. This manouvre had to be timed perfectly, or they could all die.

  Here, now looking down on the playing field beneath them, Ergo’s normally calm exterior was shaken to the core. The Maraukians were like nothing he’d ever imagined in his worst nightmares.

  “Captain,” Dansk said. “If this doesn’t work…”

  Ergo looked over to Dansk, who now had tears in her eyes. “They did everything for us. It isn’t right.”

  Ergo didn’t say anything. This maneuver had to work. He’d put his faith in Captain Chen and the Moby. He focused on his controls, knowing she was right but that he couldn’t do anything else about it. Co-ordinates and timing calculations were coming in every second so that the two ships would have the time to connect. Ergo only hoped it was enough, that they’d be able to pull it off.

  Chapter 45

  The Shipyard

  In Transit

  8/3555

  Jerome cradled his newborn son with one arm while he tested the warmth of the milk on his hand. Esamai was resting. She needed to sleep just as much as he did. Besides, staring into his son’s eyes, everything was clear. Family mattered more than anything.

  Unconsciously, his eyes moved to the screens on the side of the room. He had adjusted them to show updates on what was happening in the Otarvi system, where Mark was.

  A frown creased his brow while he read, his son’s gurgling the only piece of comfort he had.

  The door pinged and when Jerome checked the ID, he allowed them in. Admiral Hall stepped inside, his face solemn.

  Jerome didn’t need to know what the man wanted. He already wanted it too.

  “You have a plan?” he asked as the admiral’s eyes drifted to the baby.

  “I do.” Admiral Hall’s voice was terse and abrupt.

  Esamai sat up, worry creeping in with her tiredness.

  “How many people?”

  “I put a call out a minute ago for volunteers. There’s a hundred thousand names come through already.”

  Pride welled up in Jerome’s chest. This could be the beginning of something even he wasn’t sure of. To save Mark, he’d put it all on the line. Mark had done it time and time again for him in the past. The Victors’ names were legend. He was part of that legend. Yet, he hesitated. “Are they ready for this? They’ve never seen a battle like it before, only ever heard the stories since the Maraukians first hit.”

  “They aren’t ready, but they’ve all got upgraded armor and weapons,” Hall said.

  From the beginning, they had got information from Mark on weapons dealers, places they could get armor, weapons, and ammo. They also got plans for Alcubierre drives and they spent all the money of the Victor Corporation to arm themselves and buy fabbers. Mark created the M19A and could freely give them the plans for the weapons system.

  “What about the drive?” Jerome asked.

  “It functions as described. All of the tests show that it works perfectly. Yeltsin is confident,” Hall said.

  They’d outfitted the Alcubierre drive to the largest freighter at three kilometers long and two wide; most ships could fit inside the massive behemoth.

  Jerome knew Hall would have reviewed everything personally. Hall wouldn’t risk the lives of their men and women if he didn’t think they stood a chance.

  “Get the ship ready. Everyone who wants to come, may do so. Everyone is to be reinstated to their previous ranks in the EMF.” Jerome stood, and Hall followed his example. With his son finally finishing his dinner, he put the bottle down and, moving him over his shoulder, patted the boy’s back lightly. “Mark’s stuck out in the middle of a city with Maraukians climbing all over him. The legionnaire’s forces are going to be too late to save him.”

  Jerome met with Esamai’s eyes. She had just gained a son but by her eyes, fear was creeping in that she might lose her husband.

  The look pulled at his heartstrings, but there were some things that were just a part of Jerome.

  “Forces are already loading. We’ll be ready to depart in two hours,” Hall said. His words showed that he had not been idle, gathering supplies, personnel, and readying the freighter.

  Hall saluted Jerome, who quickly returned the gesture. He turned back to Esamai.

  He patted his son’s back and bounced him slightly as his wife waved for him to come closer.

  He moved to her as she wrapped her weak arms around him. He sat on the bed with her, putting his arm around her.

  She nestled into his side, biting her lip as tears rolled down.

  It was some time before she could pull herself together. “I’ll take him,” she said.

  Jerome stood and passed her their son.

  Seeing the two of them, Jerome felt his heart tearing. “I love you.” Jerome kissed her and stared into her eyes, seeing the pain there, asking why he needed to go even as she didn’t say anything, knowing that this was a part of him and what he was.

  “I love you both.” Jerome looked to their son.

  “I love you too.” The words were hard for Esamai to say as she choked on them.

  Jerome kissed her forehead. Gathering his strength, he turned and headed for the door. He looked back to the two of them, memorizing their faces.

  Then he left. The door swung shut behind him.

  He could only grit his teeth as he heard her crying before he left the corridor.

  There was a coldness in Jerome’s eyes, a coldness that hadn�
�t been there for a long time. He took on the pain of leaving his family, the possibility of dying, and he stood straight as he adjusted his uniform.

  He wasn’t Jerome Victor, the father and husband; he was Major Jerome Victor and he had a brother to save.

  Chapter 46

  SLS Troop Transport 481

  Otarvi System

  8/3555

  Nerva sat with Pullo, conferring with Dominguez at the Victor Shipyard via his NIAI. They all watched the Maraukian horde invade and surround Edani.

  “The mergers aren’t going to get out of that.” Pullo simply confirmed what he was thinking, what he knew already in his heavy heart. All this war, fighting, it never seemed to end, but he was sure as hell not letting the mergers be taken down like this.

  “Anything we can do to assist?” Dominguez asked.

  “They’re running out of all munitions, backed into a corner like no other. Our only way in would be if we had—”

  His thoughts were interrupted as a flashing red light.

  “Comms coming in. Unknown channel. Asking for you by name. Identifying as Admiral Hall.”

  Nerva seemed stunned for a second before recovering and snapping out an order as he looked to the main screen.“Put them on.”

  The screen changed to show an older looking man sitting in a command seat wearing a simple armored space suit with admiral rank tabs on his shoulder. With a nametape saying Hall on his chest.

  “Major, was wondering if you would like a ride to Indalia?” Hall asked.

  “A ride? What you talking about?” Nerva asked.

  “I’m talking about the behemoth of a freighter that I’m currently in command of. We’ve got room for two of your carriers in here.”

  “What are you carrying?” Nerva asked.

  This time, it was Hall’s turn to grin. “One carrier. Four hundred thousand pissed-off troopers with M19As, repulsors, and armor. Even got some salvaged combat shuttles in here. No idea where those came from,” Hall said with an “innocent” face.

  “You sure about this?” Nerva’s grin faded as he looked into Hall’s eyes.

  “This is a crew of only volunteers. Do you think Jerome, Pullo, and Ortiz were just going to sit back and watch this happen?”

  “No. No, I don’t.” Nerva felt as if he were coming alive again, and Dominguez’s almost-laugh echoed through his mind. Sneaky damned woman! He had been under the pressure of the senate and everyone looking for him to rebel or do something that they could catch him for and make him look bad for.

  Looks like I’ll finally give them a reason to get rid of me.

  “Drive is warming up. We should be with you shortly,” Hall said.

  Nerva’s thoughts went to Dominguez, who had followed everything that just transpired. “You heard the man. I’m joining the real rebellion.”

  “Rebellion? Oh, of course, sir.”

  “You don’t think a carrier with over four hundred thousand troopers going in without the senate’s say-so will go down well, do you?” Pullo asked.

  “Those old bastards got too complacent, working on their political power instead of working to increase the strength of the legion and push forward. Fuck ’em.”

  “Well said. Now we just need to check and make sure that Captain Reiko and Huang’s crews won’t rebel on them if we accept the help of a third party to reach the planet. I’m happy that we were able to use the legion from Gilese. We know that they’re loyal at least and they’ll willingly help out the mergers with all of the rumors and actions that were recorded in that fight.”

  Chapter 47

  Stadium

  Indalia, Otarvi System

  8/3555

  The ground rumbled as the shuttle landed behind her. Quina carried on fighting, knowing that soon it would be full and it would be taking off once more.

  Her comms pinged.

  “Legate, we’re under orders from a Captain Chen on the Moby that once the civilians are onboard, you are to load right on after them.”

  “He’s kidding, right?” Quina looked to Xiao. “We’ll be too heavy for a shuttle?”

  Xiao didn’t answer, his focus on the fight ahead as the Maraukians drew in even closer.

  “Ergo, we’ve two situated as overwatch on the far-right tower. If you’ve any chance of getting more onboard your shuttle, you pick them up on the way past. We’re no more getting off this planet now than we were two minutes ago. Do. Not. Put those people at risk, or I swear I will come and hunt your ass down myself from this very spot!”

  It was Mark’s voice that came back to her then. “Legate Quina, do as Ergo’s asking. Captain Chen and the Moby will be perfoming a mag lock hook up.”

  She wanted to ignore him, to continue her fight and let the Maraukians know who they were really dealing with. To her last dying breath, she would take out as many of them as humanly possible. They wouldn’t get her so easily, but there was a little spark of hope that struck her heart. Mark wasn’t someone she could easily ignore.

  “You trust Captain Chen can pull this off?”

  Mark’s next words struck that spark in her and it spread throughout. “With my life, Legate.”

  Switching to her own network to all her team, she spoke clear. “On my orders, pull back and board that shuttle.”

  She noticed a few strange glances her way from the others, but they didn’t speak against her. “Yes, sir!”

  Behind her the shuttle was loading fast. They had less than minutes left.

  “On my mark. You ready?!”

  “Sir, yes, sir.”

  The Maraukians broke through the grounds’ blasted doorway.

  Time slowed for Quina as she waited for Ergo’s final comm.

  ***

  Charles glanced to his screen. “Holy shit!” he said. “Jess! With me. Now.”

  Charles ran; he ran faster than he had ever done so before, stunning Jess as they headed for the hangar bay.

  Jess ran with him, easily keeping up. “What the hell is going on?” she asked, trying her best to meet his worried eyes with hers.

  “Chen’s heading in to give weight assistance to the last shuttle evacing the city.”

  “And how the hell can we help?”

  Charles shook his head from side to side. “Crazy bastard wants us to use the mag-locks.”

  “The what? That’s meant for space attachment, not planetary use!”

  Charles shook his head. “Crazy bastard.” When he met her eyes, she could see the excitement and smile that threatened to split his face. He opened up the hangar door and stepped through. “We’ve one chance, one chance…that’s it.”

  No sooner was he inside the hangar bay than he leapt into action, quickly pulling up all the systems to operate the winch.

  Jess stood beside him and watched carefully. “What can I do?”

  “Lock down this bay. Get a suit on. If this goes wrong, we might need you to manually disconnect.”

  Jess stared at him. He was trying something never done before on the say-so of some newly merged captain. But she also knew him well enough. She nodded and rushed for the suits, at least putting on a mask for Charles while he couldn’t.

  The comms pinged and Travestki’s voice came over it. There was a slight worried pitch that Charles couldn’t miss. “Ready for maneuver, Charles?”

  “In position. On your mark.”

  Jess moved over to the large hangar bay doors as they opened. She glanced once to Charles but he just smiled at her and waited for the order.

  Charles swallowed as they cleared the senators’ open playing field. The view below them was terrifying. If it wasn’t for gravity and mag-lock boots inside keeping them in place, Charles knew they’d have been sucked out.

  The ship banked and the view below them shifted. Charles noted the Maraukian horde below them and the tiny shuttle that was slightly to their left.

  “Mark!”

  He punched the drop with all his might, almost cracking the screen, he was sure.

  “W
inch away!” he called out.

  Jess’s face couldn’t be seen.

  The terrible thunk and engine stutter was evident as the ship lurched. Jess fell to her knees, but she was back up in a second.

  ***

  Quina had heard the command from Ergo, just as her men did. In synchronization bliss, they hurled all they could at the Maraukians flooding their way and ran. She had never run as fast in her life, clutching her weapon to her side. Fallback to the shuttle was in quick stages: her men put up defensive fire as soon as they could; others shoved themselves on top of the shuttle as best they could.

  Above, she heard the loud vibrations as another ship came in. Then she heard the thunk as something connected with it.

  One of her men fell out and onto the ground beside her, but he was soon up and back onboard.

  Xiao’s suppressing fire next to her deafened her eardrums but he wasn’t letting up. Neither was she.

  “Thirty seconds!”

  The shuttle’s engines fired and it started to lift off. Xiao made a jump for it, reaching out to grab a hold of Quina’s arm. “Get in!” he shouted.

  But the Maraukians were too close, she couldn’t stop them. She didn’t have time to think: it was react or die.

  It would be seconds before they reached in for weapons, and were retaliating with firepower. Firepower that would rip the ship apart.

  “Get these doors closed now!” a voice boomed behind her.

  ***

  The doors started to close, and the arms from behind tried their best to pull her in. It wasn’t working. The outside world exploded in bright enemy fire.

  The pulling behind her tugged her up once more, but it wasn’t enough. Then Xiao dropped before her, his feet hitting the deck. His eyes locked with hers. “No!” she said, head shaking at him.

  He smiled at her. “They need you.” He reached for her weapon, and she let him have it.

  With all his might, Xiao shoved upward and Quina was finally yanked into the ship’s hold. Xiao was now stuck on the ground.