by John Walker
Salina spoke into her microphone with several different messages, tapping her screen every few moments. She finally shook her head.“I’m getting nothing but static on all frequencies, sir.”
“Understood.” Desmond gestured to Vincent.“Launch the fighters and have them engage immediately. Anything that shoots back. Rules of engagement are wide open. For the marines, have them try to identify friendly organic targets. Everything else is fair game. Prioritize their lives above all else. I want everyone getting home after this mission.”
“We will be in range to fire in less than three minutes,” Zach said.“What’re my target priorities?”
Desmond hesitated to answer. On one hand, he felt like the defense platforms should be their first order of business. They weren’t going to stop generating drones to fight off invaders but on the other hand, attacking the aliens meant they would have to defend themselves on two fronts. They might make easier work of the remaining vessels with the help.
An idea hit him and he turned back to Vincent.“Get our bombers out there. I want those platforms taken down by them. The fighters focus on the fight close at hand and we’ll aim for the alien capital ships. Zach, target the nearest ship. We’ll go from there.”
“Yes, sir. I’m on it now.”
“Okay, this is it.” Desmond glanced back at Cassie.“Agent Alexander, I hope you’re ready in case they try their special attack. Beyond that, this is looking pretty straightforward, folks. Frequent reports from all parties away from the ship filtered through Commander Bowman. Here we go. Make your efforts count.”
***
Lieutenant Kate Zeller began flying when she was old enough to see over the controls of her father’s antique crop duster. They’d long been out of use but she learned to operate the thing and never looked back. Joining the military gave her an opportunity to do what she loved the most, only faster.
Sitting behind the controls of a fighter provided her with the most intense outlet for her need to push the envelope, to pit herself not only against an opponent but her own skills as well. As the other pilots in Mustang Squadron launched, she tapped her foot in anticipation. When finally she got the green light, she gunned the throttle, jetting out into open space.
The challenge of a strange enemy so far from home further appealed to her competitive nature. No one else from Earth could boast what they were about to do and she fully intended to make the most of the experience. If these aliens decided to truly start a war, they did not understand what door they opened.
A last minute briefing let them know about the kink in the chain. The automated defenses protecting the planet sounded pretty nasty. They were already engaged with the aliens and would have to be dealt with before the Gnosis could safely take orbit. Bombers were en route and were being escorted by Charger squadron.
Kate checked out her scanner, bringing up the data on the drones. They were smaller than the Earth ships but not by much. Their hulls were dedicated to thrusters, allowing them precise maneuverability, and weapons. Each unit boasted energy weapons, tough enough that the computer suggested caution when engaging.
It’s never good when the computer issues an actual warning, Kate thought. Luckily, their own defenses are subpar at best.
Indeed, they only seemed to be surrounded by environmental shields which wouldn’t stop a solid hit from any weapon really. They relied on maneuverability and numbers to take down threats and considering the briefing said additional drones were constantly being replicated, it made sense.
If the people on this planet had a ship like the Gnosis as well, they could defend their home indefinitely.
And yet they don’t even seem to be here. What happened on this planet? Lord, I bet the marines are going to find out.
“Listen up folks,” Denis’s voice filled her helmet.“We are within range. Break off with your wingmen and engage. Prioritize the aliens. They represent the greater threat. Any questions?” No one spoke up.“Then get to it.”
Kate’s wingman was Lieutenant Hal Brown. He’d been shot down in the last engagement and she felt somewhat responsible. Once they met up in the medical bay, he exonerated her immediately. He claimed he had been too aggressive and maybe he was right. They didn’t know what they were dealing with and he went straight for the throat.
“You ready?” Kate asked.“I’ll take lead.”
“Go for it,” Hal replied.“And I’m one hundred percent ready. Believe me, I had a lot of time to think about these guys while I waited for search and rescue.”
Kate winced. I bet he did. Hal flew on her right and she pushed ahead of him, taking the lead. He gave her some space as she enhanced her HUD, specifically the targeting system. The amber reticle had tiny lines branching off, touching squares that surrounded several enemy fighters. They plotted distance, speed and fed additional information back to the computer.
The ship rumbled from the speed. Inertial dampeners worked hard but they weren’t enough to fend off all the g-force, which pressed her into her seat. Her shoulders began to ache, a familiar sensation she’d grown to associate with her passion. It didn’t bother her anymore. A little pain allowed her to maintain a feel of the ship, giving her a physical connection to it.
Kate’s first target closed to within range. She engaged the side thrusters, nudging her to the left just enough for a better firing solution. The enemy flew wildly to avoid a couple drones, which buzzed around it with all the maneuverability of bees swarming around their hive. They were so close, they’d probably take splash damage from any explosions.
Stray shots blurred by, purple beams streaking off into the distance. Something clipped Kate’s shields, making them flare briefly. The HUD showed no appreciable damage. She narrowed her eyes and fired her mass drivers. As the guns erupted to her left and right, the vessel reacted with tiny vibrations through the frame.
Had she not been so familiar with the workings of the fighter, she might not have even noticed.
The first spread missed cleanly but as she fired a second time, a couple of the metal shards connected with one of the drones. An entire side of the small craft popped off and it tumbled, a bout of orange energy billowing from the hull before exploding some distance away. The other drone didn’t even hesitate and continued its assault.
The alien’s shields continued to flare, each shot not quite enough to get through on their own but with the constant hammering, thedefenses wouldn’t last. Despite some pretty impressive evasion attempts, the alien couldn’t shake his opponent and none of his friends were close enough to help.
Hal fired his beam weapons, striking the alien ship dead on the side. The shields lit up far brighter than what the drone had managed. Kate took advantage of the hit and blasted away at him. She was closing fast though and had time for one attack before having to evade or risk slamming into the target.
Their movements may have been erratic but they weren’t going anywhere. Their dogfight kept them contained to a fairly small area. Kate’s attack grazed the rear of her target and she veered off just as the drone let loose another flurry. The computer began to buzz, an indication that the defenses for her target were down.
Kate glanced over her shoulder in time to see pieces of its hull chipped away by the drone. She came around, trying for a better firing solution and Hal kept to her tail, moving with her. The alien dove, a swift direction change that might’ve broken bones even with solid inertial dampeners.
Finally, the drone seemed to overshoot him, giving the alien a second to breathe.
Hal called out,“I’ve got a lock. Firing.” Several rounds from his mass drivers filled the air and Kate pulled up to give him some room. The enemy veered but chose the wrong direction, taking a full volley right on the top of his ship. Lights winked out on the target, the engines went dark and the pilot ejected a moment before his ship burst in all directions.
The drone spun in place and came straight at Kate, rapidly firing energy bolts in her direction. Several shots riddled her shields b
efore she could roll to the side, avoiding the last of them. It flew by her, adjusting course and coming back around for another firing solution. She considered it for a brief moment before speaking up.
“We can’t keep a tight formation with that thing. Break and get an angle.”
“That won’t work when there’s more than one,” Hal said.
“I get that but hey, we’ve got time to worry about that later, right?”
Hal chuckled.“I guess… but not much. Okay, breaking now.”
They separated, giving themselves some distance as the attacking drone made another pass. This time, it flew between them from behind. Kate took the opportunity and fired but the drone flipped away, casually evading the attack. Hal fired as well and cursed over the com.“I had target lock on that thing!”
Time to try something new. Kate redirected herself, flipping around in such an extreme maneuver, her entire body felt like it was being crushed. The moment she had the drone in her sites, she went for lock, ignoring the ache in every bone. Tone buzzed and she fired a missile, hoping her AI could outfly her opponent.
The projectile started chasing the target and they zoomed off toward the others. It’s getting help!“Do you see that, Hal?”
“Yes, those things are terrifying.”
“Look out!” Hal’s warning came a moment too late as a beam weapon directly hit her after-shields. She maneuvered out of the way, letting one of the enemy alien ships fly by. It banked and came around, firing at Hal. He returned fire, tilting his ship to avoid their attack. The two nearly collided as they went by one another.
Kate redirected to fly after it but another ship came at her.“Hal, I’ve got one on me now too. We need to form up.”
“I’m a little busy. Rendezvous at the coordinates I’m sending you right now.” Her computer put a waypoint on her HUD.“Fight your way there.”
“On it.”
Banking hard left, she reversed the maneuver at the last second and once again put herself through some serious pain. The inertial dampeners screamed as she turned but the ploy worked. Her opponent bought the first maneuver and didn’t bother to redirect. This gave her a fantastic firing solution and she let loose a volley of ammo before following up with beams.
The alien didn’t have the chance to dodge before taking both attacks. The energy beams hit first, cutting through the shields and the mass drivers ripped up the engines. Kate’s target turned on its good engine, trying to limp off. She pulled up and fired again, finishing him off before spinning around to join Hal.
“This is Mustang One,” Denis announced over the com.“We’re being overwhelmed over here. Need some backup.”
“You got yours, Hal?” Kate asked.“We need to go.”
“Mine’s bugging out but I can get him…” Hal hummed.“I’m breaking off. We’ll regroup on Mustang One. How’re you holding up?”
Kate checked and all systems were normal. Shields were not quite to one hundred percent after her near misses but they were recharging. Automated repair systems engaged, enhancing the relays to ensure power made it to weapons and shields equally. She made a minor adjustment, manually giving the shields some more.
“I’m good,” Kate announced.“I’ll follow your lead.”
***
Cassie probed the enemy security protocols, attempting to establish a link to them with their own technology. She had just enough information to make it seem possible but each failure started to get frustrating. There were so many benefits to breaking through their defenses, not the least of which might be the chance for diplomacy.
I’d love to get into their coms. Even if they don’t want to talk to us directly, we might be able to hear them.
Getting through also meant her application would work to delay or even stop the enemies from using their special weapon. To that point, they hadn’t seen them try it but then the Gnosis had yet to truly open fire. They were closing in but the drones seemed to be giving them quite the run for their money.
A scan of that technology came back as she expected: they were designed through a similar path as their own work. More Orb knowledge adopted and adapted to fit the culture that the device was found on. Unfortunately, the planet’s surface seemed to lack people but there were structures. When they had more time, Cassie hoped to be able to gather more data on them.
What we find down there may well hold the key to understanding what our enemy wants with the Orbs. We can only hope.
Cassie’s heart skipped a beat when she broke through the static temporarily, only to be rejected by a large burst that hurt her ear. Wincing, she pulled off the headset and sighed, turning to look at the view screen. The battle outside looked chaotic. Small ships darted about and energy beams went in all directions.
The Gnosis was stepping into quite the mess.
“Open fire, Zach.” Desmond’s voice rang out over the low din of communication chatter. The pilot nodded once and acknowledged. A moment later, the Gnosis launched an attack, slamming the nearest enemy ship. Energy beams lanced out and connected, striking the rear. Their shields held and Cassie spun in her seat to get a scan.
Their defenses absorbed the energy, more of the fluid shield tech that she and Nathaniel had discussed. This was different than their first encounter. The data proved that they were facing a different classification of vessel, perhaps more combat oriented. Cassie turned to Salina who scowled at her own screen, intensely focused.
“No effect,” Salina announced.“Shields are holding firm. If it helps any, they’re holding against the drones as well.”
“Interesting pick there, Zach,” Desmond said.“You found the toughest one.”
“And it’s coming around,” Zach replied.“I think they’re preparing to engage.”
“Do we have a scan of the weapons on that thing?” Desmond asked.
“Yes, sir,” Salina put them up on the screen beside the vessel with amber lines drawn to the different hard points.“As you can see, they have the same type of ordnance we fought back on Earth and as such, our defenses should be able to hold.”
“Good, they’re not giants, they just have a good wall.” Desmond stood.“Alternate fire, Zach. Mass drivers then energy and so forth. Try to confuse those shields and get through. Cassie and Salina, I’m looking for both of you to come up with another solution if the brute force one doesn’t work.”
“We’re on it,” Salina replied.
A newfound pressure landed on Cassie’s shoulders and she started working faster, trying to remain calm. She had to figure out why the alien security protocols were so different from those they left on Earth. Interference from the destroyed ships played a factor, mostly because the signal strength was diminished.
Maybe if I can boost the signal by a lot. Cassie brought up an inventory of all their surveillance tools. The Gnosis originally planned on charting planets and studying stellar phenomena. That meant satellites and probes, either of which would be able to give her the extra jolt she needed to make her application work.
“Captain,” Cassie called out.“Permission to launch both a satellite and a probe. They’re going to help me get through all this interference.”
“Granted,” Desmond said. He was busy at Zach’s station. The guns began to fire, and they spoke in hushed voices about the results. On the left side of her console, she prepared her tools to launch while on the right, she looked at the scans on the enemy vessel to see how the attack was going.
The alternation made a small difference. Where their first attack had no effect at all, they were certainly giving the enemy shields a beating. Unfortunately, the results were slow. After five passes, the enemy defenses remained strong at eighty-five percent. Desmond called out to Vincent to redirect the bombers.
“We’ll deal with those defensive platforms later, we need to take this guy down.” Desmond returned to his seat.“We’ll alternate between bombs, beam weapons, mass drivers and missiles.”
The enemy returned fire and the ship shook. Salina s
poke in her typically calm voice,“Shields holding firm.”
Cassie launched the satellite and probe, directing them deep into the heart of the battle. Hopefully, the enemies will consider them to be little more than debris. Neither of the devices were built for combat but they wouldn’t really be a threat until they started to broadcast her signal. By the time they started doing so, it would likely be too late to destroy them.
Once she planted her application in their systems, they’d be sending information back to her and the boost wouldn’t be necessary. A timer started, showing it would take just over five minutes for both devices to be in position. She thought about sending two more just in case but hesitated. Additional resources might look like some kind of attack.
This has to remain subtle for it to work.
She diverted her attention to the attack, trying not to hold her breath. The fact they were being shot at sunk in. No one on the bridge seemed particularly nervous about it but she knew they were mostly acting. They didn’t have time to think about the fight in Earth’s orbit but this one, they had ten hours to contemplate.
And everything they were facing, everything they did out there was unknown. Even with their inteland preparation, they were a lone ship so far from home, distance didn’t even matter. Pioneers who had to fight for their lives not only against the enemy they anticipated, but an automated one without any remorse or even biologically sentient guidance.
Just do your job and focus on the task at hand. That’s how you get through this and remain effective. Cassie took a deep breath and returned to her console, prepping her application to send. The moment the boosting devices activated, she would hit the button for an upload. Until then, she would be patient… and wait.
***
Heat sat in one of three shuttles plunging down toward the surface of the planet. Their escorts weren’t considered to be enough for what was going on so a couple deck hands manned the turrets, prepared to take on the drones flying around out there. Scans indicated there were more flying around at the twenty-thousand foot range so they needed to be ready.