“So the mechs can have a go at them as well?” Varosk sneered. “Pure madness.”
“No,” Michael said, trying valiantly to remain calm. “We ask all personnel to eject.”
“Eject?” Varosk repeated incredulously. But the Captain was no fool. Realization dawned quickly. “Of course. The single Aegisi advantage against the Cava05 - our amphibious abilities. And once in the water…”
“…there are places we can go,” Michael said, alluding to the ancient Yeneri hibernation facilities.
“Yes, yes,” Varosk enthused. “At the very least we can harry Cavan forces for months. Force them to send more troops.”
He looked at Michael approvingly. “You’re proving your mettle, boy,” he said. “Now we just need your friend to provide us with the locations of the other Yeneri bases.”
Jake finished unscrewing another warhead and looked at Varosk with a mischievous smile.
“Ask and you shall receive,” he said, fingers dancing over his wrist pad.
“Something tells me that intel isn’t free,” Varosk said warily. “But I don’t want to know what the payment is just yet.”
Jake’s grin grew wider. “As you wish, Cap’n.”
Most of the available warheads had been packed tightly into the cockpit, leaving just enough room for one man to engage the blinking dashboard.
“Other mech will be here any minute,” Varosk said. “Do we know how to launch the mech head?”
“Cavan blueprints have the answer,” Jake said, scrolling through a lightsphere projected from a hand-sized depression in the wall. “But it can’t be automated. One man will need to stay behind.”
Varosk kept his eyes trained on the tall Nostroma. If he noticed, Jake didn’t let it show. Instead he calmly transferred the data he needed and made his way to the cockpit.
“To answer the other obvious question that no one has asked,” he said, “I’ll need to activate the head’s shield so this payload doesn’t get sprinkled all over your pretty ocean.”
Varosk looked to be on the verge of a grin but instead waved his troops back down through the water-air membrane at the waist of the mech.
Michael looked sharply at the Nostroma. “You’ll probably die in here.”
“Kid, I been in some tight situations,” Jake drawled. “This one ain’t givin’ me palpitations.”
21
“The Aegisi Blue thanks you for your sacrifice, Nostroma,” Varosk said, clearly believing Jake couldn’t possibly survive. The Captain pulled Michael’s arm, urging him through the water-air membrane. The forager didn’t want to leave Jake behind. They’d been through a lot in the last forty-eight hours and he felt some kind of kinship from that. After all, Jake had saved his life more than once. He’d been like a strange protective charm ever since their flight from Villa Serese.
The only thing that kept Michael moving was the urge to see his plan to fruition. If he could just make contact with a few Aegisi Captains, or even the Admiral of the fleet, he might be able to save thousands of lives.
So it was with a heavy heart that he followed the corsairs back down to the mech’s feet and out into the open ocean. It was surreal to see the huge machine sprawled across the sea floor, but it also seemed right. The Cava05 had no understanding of marine warfare and had simply tried to shoehorn their best, most intimidating units into an environment not entirely suited to them.
In this little skirmish, at least, the Aegisi had made them pay for their arrogance. The battalion located their aquasors and awaited Varosk’s command. Much to Michael’s relief, the Captain ordered an immediate withdrawal to the eastern beach of Samalar Island. From there they would risk an appraisal of the wider battle.
Michael took that to mean they would consider making contact with Aegisi air forces. If there were still air forces to speak of. The Cava05 may have already won the day, with nothing else to do but mop up the tiny pockets of survivors throughout the Southern Ocean.
The battalion made their way over the soft sediment undulating into the crash zone of the surf beach. Michael hitched a ride on one of the curling barrels and was hurled unceremoniously onto the pebbly coast.
“Into the trees,” Varosk bellowed, dragging his aquasor into the shade cast by a wine palm. Michael lugged his aquasor up the beach and looked at the Captain expectantly. Varosk gave a curt nod and went to kneel down in front of the foreshore dune. He was just beyond the tree line but out of sight from the water.
The second tower mech had been spotted to the northeast but couldn’t be seen from the battalion’s current position. It would hopefully investigate the reason for its comrade’s collapse before cutting its losses and resuming its search for survivors. Sooner or later it would detect the corsairs on the island, which is why Varosk was keen to get back into the water. It was the only terrain type that gave the Aegisi some kind of advantage.
“Aegisi Command, do you copy?” Varosk said urgently into his com. “Aegisi Command, do you copy?”
Michael scanned the sky for signs of Aegisi survival.
“Over there!” he exclaimed, pointing to the faint outline of a teardrop-shaped warship in the equatorial sky. It was surrounded by flashing red light.
“It’s the Tranquility,” Varosk said in wonder. “Flagship has survived this whole time. Can’t have too much fight left in her.”
The Tranquility was well known in the Aegisi Navy as a defensive monolith. She was built on the understanding that the Aegisi Republic be confined to one or two easily defended planets. She was therefore specced with a multitude of absorbent shields that could soak heavy enemy fire for days if needed.
The Aegisi mindset had always been defense first. They had never been an expansionist species, which probably contributed to their hesitation and inexperience when it came to controlling Cerulean. Out here over the ocean world, with precious little in the way of fleet coverage or planetary support fire, the Tranquility wouldn’t last forever. It was time to change the battlefield.
Several soldiers pumped their fists with delight and slapped each other on the back. Michael also felt an immense wave of pride and relief, tempered just a little by the blackness still in his heart. He couldn’t help but wonder whether the Admiral had anything to do with Emilia’s death. He forced himself to focus on the moment, on surviving the coming battle. If he managed to do that, his thirst for revenge could be addressed later.
“Nice to hear your voice, Admiral,” Varosk said. “We’d feared the worst.”
Zhavar’s subtext was clear - she was the commanding officer of a flagship under attack, Varosk was merely a survivor on the distant planet’s surface. The Captain needed to feed Zhavar something useful and do it quickly.
“We’ve neutralized a tower mech and bought ourselves a little time,” he said. “Even better, we have a mech head stuffed with warheads. We believe we can steer it anywhere we want.”
Node One was the Cavan flagship. No one had yet made a visual on the cube-shaped vessel. It was telling that the enemy had sent their greatest fleet asset. Their objective was clear - relegate the Aegisi to subjugate status. Remove them as a threat to the galactic hierarchy. Michael swallowed. The stakes couldn’t be any higher for his kin.
“I understand, Admiral,” Varosk said in a tight voice. “Which is why we implore you to make orbit over Samalar Island in the Southern Ocean. If we can draw Node One closer to us we might be able to hit it with the mech head. We should also evacuate all standing troops on the Tranquility and take the fight up to the Cava05 from the water.”
Varosk was clearly adept at mounting military arguments. The silence on the other end spoke
volumes.
“We think we can solve that problem, Admiral,” Varosk said triumphantly. He had her hook, line and sinker. “Patching you the locations of Yeneri hibernation nodes.”
A brief pause.
Varosk closed the com and laughed heartily. The odds were still firmly stacked against the Aegisi, but at least now they had a fighting chance. Much depended on whether Jake could find the target with that mech head.
If they could at least give the Cavan flagship a black eye, the widespread morale boost would be significant. Another critical factor was drawing the Cava05 into committing their ground infantry. A pitched battle in the marine environment would strongly favor the Aegisi. Michael’s head began to hurt with all the possible permutations.
Varosk drew the battalion back into the trees but left two lookouts at the base of the foreshore dune. The soldiers took the opportunity to drink and bathe in a narrow stream bordered by thick jungle. Michael followed suit, glad to wash himself in freshwater after so much salty brine. Stripping down to his briefs, he let himself drift in the water while the boyish corsairs horsed around.
A little later he finished the rest of his trail mix and let the dappled sunshine warm his skin. Varosk seemed happy to let his troops enjoy a half hour of relaxation. Michael noticed that the soldiers had a healthy respect for their commander. There was a clear understanding that work was work and play was play. Varosk had a firm grip on the hearts of those under his command and Michael considered himself lucky to have come across this particular battalion.
At length one of the lookouts reported the Tranquility’s orbital entry. Varosk ordered the corsairs to suit up for action. Michael donned his utility suit and breastplate, admiring the look of his armor in the stream’s reflection. He could tell the armor gave the corsairs a little more confidence as they prepared for battle.
The new design stood to make this battalion very hard to kill if the Cava05 deployed standard infantry. Michael savored the surreal moment, standing by the peaceful tropical stream watching real Aegisi corsairs wearing his armor. If only his heart wasn’t burdened with crushing sorrow he might have even enjoyed it.
22
Looking more relaxed and hopeful than they’d been for several hours, the corsairs dutifully reported to their Captain for final instructions. Lieutenant Blucher was standing to the side, speaking urgently into his wrist com. Michael gleaned that the man was talking to other Aegisi survivors. Varosk was clearly setting up a rendezvous point to consolidate Aegisi forces.
Before he addressed his corsairs, Varosk received a final report from one of the lookouts stationed on the beach. His face was grave as he faced the battalion.
“Our flagship has broken orbit and makes for Samalar,” he said quietly. Michael wondered how the Captain must be feeling. Now that the plan was in motion, much responsibility rested on his shoulders.
“Within minutes the sky will be filled with Aegisi paratroopers,” the captain continued. “The Cava05 will try and cut them off. They won’t get all of them. They will then deploy ground troops, and that’s when the heat will truly be applied.”
Michael tried to swallow his nerves but it didn’t work. The Cava05 outnumbered the Aegisi, that much was clear. Everything hinged on the makeshift missile they’d created. On cue, Varosk looked at Michael.
“I have received word from the Nostroma,” he said. “The second tower mech ran multiple scans over its fallen comrade. Your friend was somehow able to suppress his heat signature and remain undetected. The tower mech is now moving south, just a few clicks east of Samalar.”
Michael heaved a sigh of relief. A critical moment had passed - Jake had survived the second mech. The Cava05 may have concluded the downed unit had suffered a freak marine accident, killing all inhabitants. Naturally, a thorough investigation would reveal otherwise, but the enemy had no time for that right now.
“Spread along the foreshore dune,” Varosk barked, his voice picking up intensity. “Use your natural cover and make every shot count. We can’t support distant allies but we can help defend our rendezvous point. Move out.”
Michael followed the corsairs along the sandy stream and out into the bright sunlight of the foreshore. He’d expected something rousing from Varosk, but the captain’s functional, controlled speech simply reflected the elite professionalism of this unit. These soldiers would perform with ice-cold efficiency when the time came. Michael felt much safer knowing that.
The corsairs fanned out across the elegantly undulating foreshore dune and positioned themselves near the lip so they could face curling surf some two hundred yards to the east.
The early afternoon sky was filled with chaos. The Aegisi flagship Tranquility had indeed broken orbit and was now nose down in the stratosphere. The hulking, teardrop-shaped vessel was clearly being harassed, its rear shield ablaze with magenta flame. A dark shadow hung in the background, only now entering orbit. Michael could just make out a diamond shape. A cube tilted on its axis.
It was Node One, the Cavan flagship, and it was moving very quickly. No safe, shallow orbital entry for the enemy - they were intent on reeling in the Aegisi flagship and ending the battle for good. Two smaller Aegisi warships were visible far to the north. Alongside the flagship, these were the remnants of the mighty Aegisi Navy.
Michael heard shouting further up the beach and saw some fifty blue-clad soldiers haring toward Varosk’s battalion. The grizzled Captain hailed the survivors and had them assume positions along the dune. Their own Captain was absent, probably dead. The arrival of reinforcements was timely. Over the top of the crashing waves Michael could see the second tower mech approaching Samalar. The movement of Aegisi survivors had probably drawn its attention. It was within firing range already.
“Down!” Varosk screamed, and Michael found himself edging back down the foreshore dune. Heavy flak pellets began shredding the jungle behind the battalion’s position. The mech had opened fire from the huge, rotating barrel gun on its right arm.
“Draw their fire!” Varosk yelled above the tumult, raising his head above the dune. Michael followed suit, keen to cast his eye over the battlefield. The menacing tower mech was clearly visible now. Within minutes it would be crashing through the surf zone and onto the beach. But a much more welcome scene was unfolding in the sky behind the Cavan leviathan.
The Tranquility was unloading all its corsairs - the finest troops of the Aegisi Republic. A rain of blue-black specks streamed from open portals on the vessel’s underside. The distant whine of Cavan probe drones made Michael’s blood run cold. Alert to the Aegisi, the Cava05 were now diverting all planet-side air units to Samalar Island.
Several of the leading drones peppered the paratroopers mercilessly. Michael couldn’t see the carnage from this distance, but knew the butcher’s bill would be extreme. It saddened him to see so many good men and women shredded without any hope of defending themselves. Varosk looked across at Michael, eyes hard with grief.
A fresh burst of flak fire had them scurrying back down the dune. The approaching mech had heavy caliber pellets that thudded into the sand with brutal force. The jungle to the west was a shattered tangle of debris. The battalion was pinned at the base of the foreshore dune. Once the mech got close enough they would be hopelessly vulnerable.
Varosk had more important things to worry about. The Tranquility would now be dipping into the troposphere and riding hard for Samalar. Node One was visible from Michael’s position as it was higher in the sky, but was descending at a greater angle than the Aegisi ship. The cube-shaped vessel was unleashing a blitzkrieg of fire on the Tranquility’s rear shields. It was only a matter of time before the Aeg
isi flagship was sent tumbling into a watery grave.
“You got Jake on the com?” Michael called out to Varosk.
The Captain nodded. “I need eyes out there or this is all for nothing,” he said grimly, motioning for one of his soldiers to ascend the dune and have a look over the battlefield. The man scrambled up without hesitation and was promptly struck by a flak pellet to the head. The caliber was more than enough to split his skull in two and spread his brains across the dune. Varosk frowned and dispatched a second solider. This one got a precious few seconds.
“Flagship is low now, probably 1200 feet,” the man called down. “I see corsairs swimming towards us. The mech is-”
The soldier was flung off the dune, his body riddled with heavy flak fire.
“Damn mech,” Varosk snarled, sending a third man. The soldier peered over the lip of the dune and reported back in a firm, disciplined voice.
“Enemy flagship is falling in behind Tranquility, Captain,” he said.
“How long?” Varosk answered.
“Five minutes, max,” came the reply before the third lookout was mowed down by mech fire. The man’s body came to rest at Varosk’s feet.
“That fucking mech needs to be taken down before the paratroopers arrive,” he said darkly. He then spoke into his wrist com: “Le Sondre, can you get that mech up and running?”
Varosk swore vehemently.
“Captain!” said a soldier urgently. “Listen!”
Somewhere between the steady, deafening thrum of mech fire and the bass drone of the approaching flagship a new mechanical whine had joined the fray.
“Probe drones?” someone asked out loud.
“Can’t be,” another answered. “Drones are hovering over the water looking for paratroopers.”
There was no time to determine an answer. Glinting coldly in the afternoon sunlight, the attacking mech’s head appeared over the lip of the dune. It had made it to the beach.
Five Empires: An Epic Space Opera Page 15