He cut down another man wearing blue and firing something at his armor, it bounced off, the weapon useless against his mighty armor. His jaws clamped around their neck, shaking them and tossing.
Orshpa shook and howled, calling his people to war, the cry was taken up and carried by the clans, both his own and from others that followed.
This was the teaching war they were looking for. Here they would teach the Free Fleet their strength.
Kalu surged through the city that the human’s called Beijing.
***
Ursht walked out onto the smoking beach, HAPA’s and Commandos were moving through the craters and Kalu bodies.
Lake Cook had settled down, it’s mirror-like surface in contrast to the white capped pressure waves that had rocked it for days.
His glance shifted to Asul building had been reduced to rubble where the fighting had been the worst. HAPA’s had served to box the Kalu in with heavy artillery support, the main batteries laying waste to anything that tried to close with the AMC camp.
He wandered through the landscape, looking at a deep furrow in the ground, marking where a round or laser blast had cut through.
His mind saw the constant fire, the space-grade mines exploding with the forces of miniature suns. His hand shook as he took a breath.
It had been a gamble, one hell of a gamble, forty-five thousand had paid with their lives to pull it off.
His combat strength was now less than half of what he had started with.
It didn’t feel real that he was alive, that he had survived, there had been so many near-breaches, the Kalu scraping at the camps gate, their lasers cutting through gun ports to get gunnery crews on the other side.
Ursht had jumped on one of those guns, a tech getting stuck in the face, they went down screaming in pain. The medics had come and taken them away. Ursht didn’t know what had happened with them. He’d been focused on unjamming the guns free floating pivot.
He took off his helmet. The Kalu smelt bad, but Ursht had fought before and it wasn’t as bad as it would be in a few days under AIH’s baking sun.
He felt that sun on his features, basking in it’s glory and he bent down and cried. Hod who had been following slumped down into a crouch, pulling her helmet off, two friends crying in misery. For the tech who had been hit, the HAPA’s who’d held the line. For every brother and sister Commando.
They had made it through the hardest training in the universe, gained the honor of serving in the Free Fleet. They were the best of the best, but not even they were invincible.
Inside that armor behind those guns, they might be three hundred pound Avarian or Kuruvian, warriors one and all; but also fathers and sisters, aunts and godfathers.
All too soon Ursht wiped the tears away, streaks in the grime on his face replaced with the dust of AIH, the soil soaking up his tears.
He pulled on his helmet, a light beeped telling him he had a message. He opened it, his computer opening reports that it believed to be of importance.
The Kalu that had landed on Drvntrni had never made it to the underwater cities. They couldn’t swim worth shit and their lasers were pretty much ineffective. Those that called the planet home killed them in droves.
The Kalu also fought the natural predators on the planet. They were ill suited for the environment and it showed. For the first time in known history, the Kalu had broken. The cities safe, the forests now with a new predator, if the local fauna and other predators didn’t kill them off.
The people of Drvntrni were used to predators and knew how to deal with them.
Oolta’s heavy gravity and atmosphere world wore down on the Kalu. Their infamous speed removed and their lasers cut down by atmospheric interference. The Orvunut and heavy gravity trained Commandos stood at a distance and fired onto the Kalu’s slow progress through shifting sands.
Merchant freighters were moving to the system to aid in shifting Commandos away from the planet and to Ershue that was still heavily engaged but holding on.
The Kalu in Quarst had finally been withered away into nothing. The cost had been high on the Free Fleet and the Independents, but it was finally done.
Merchant ships were in AIH with Commandos ready to aid in combat operations.
“What’s the status of the space port?” He asked Hod.
“It’s got some damage, Kalu all over it,” Hod reported.
“We’re going to need to clear it. Seems the cavalry is coming,” Ursht fired the message about the incoming support to Hod.
“Mind if I pass this onto the others?” Hod asked.
“Go for it, they deserve some good news,” Ursht said taking in the scene once again and heading for the Asul spaceport.
No rest for the wicked, Ursht thought jumping into his HAPA his harness wrapping around him as he started rolling off with the HAPA’s powerful movements.
***
Empress burst through the office doors, her manipulators made it look like she wanted to kill someone. Her expression told of her lack of sleep.
A group of her chief engineers followed her their expressions grim.
People got out of her way as she marched through the offices and into the conference room where a mixed group of people were having a meeting.
“Empress, we didn’t...” Buck who was sitting at the head of the table said, her manipulators moving in confusion.
“What the hell is this I hear about us charging the Free Merchant fleet for freighters?” Empress said, daring them to answer her. Those that could paled, others moved nervously, the Kuruvians limbs showed how uncomfortable they were.
“We saw an opportunity to aid the Empire, we didn’t know your now obvious feelings on the matter,” Buck said, her manipulators opened in apology.
Empress sighed, letting her frustration, a practice well known to her after dealing with many infuriating ship rebuilds, or just a damned bolt that didn’t want to come out.
“May I get a chair?” Empress asked, feeling tired, she could see that the people in the room were unhappy with the situation. Little was done by just threatening people and coming in like some tyrant.
A chief came in with a chair. She indicated her thanks and took a seat.
“Well now we’re going to make things right, we are a signatory member of the Union, we have the second most freighter hulls and our merchants are famed through all systems. We will not be labelled as people that made a profit off others suffering,” Empress said, her anger gone and her tone conversational.
“Yes Empress,” Buck said tension bleeding away from the room.
“We will start by repaying any fees we have collected; we will then pay the captains out of our own profits. What lifts are the Free Fleet doing that they might need help with?” Empress asked.
“Ershue, Daestramus, AIH and Earth are still fighting the Kalu. There are Commandos on Oolta, Drvntrni and in our own Empire that are preparing to be transported to these warzones,” Buck said, looking up from her data pad.
“Good, then we will assist in their lift and transportation. What about the supplies we have been manufacturing?” Empress asked.
“We have been asking for material costs only,” Buck’s manipulators moved in agitation.
“Acceptable, I will have a frank conversation with Monk on the state of affairs of the Free Fleet. We will run them a line of credit if needed,” Empress said.
There were shocked looks through the room, lines of credit were rare things indeed. Giving one that might number in the millions of plat was a very high honor.
“We thankfully have not been attacked directly by the Kalu, but we are part of a Union, if we are not willing to help those that sent their people to defend our planets and systems, then what will happen when we are attacked?” Empress let the question hang in the air.
“I heard that Quarst is now cleared of Kalu threats and that their small merchant fleet is turning to help them. I want letters sent to every system extending our offer of aid at flat non-interest
rates. As Salchar has shown us, we become stronger together being divided will only make us weaker,” Empress said.
“Yes Empress,” Buck said, no longer anxious or scared, she knew where she stood and what her Empress demanded of her.
“I’ve cleared my schedule for today, so let’s see what we can do to help the Union get back on their fleet. I also want to start a talk with these Kalu Independents, they seem interested in assisting us in our defense and joining the Union. Let us see if we can’t make that bond stronger,” Empress said, getting more shocked expressions.
A chief huffed a laugh, Empress found Frox’s manipulators moving in pride.
“Something amusing?” She asked her manipulators severe, it rolled off of his carapace like sparks.
“I was wondering when they would stop being so shocked by your ideas, we certainly learned long ago the practice of rolling with what Empress says,” he said, his manipulators pleased. Frox had been one of her first teachers, he’d probably given her, her very first power wrench.
She tried to think of something severe, her manipulators moving in frustration.
“Go and fix something!” She said, her manipulators moving in amusement, getting laughs from her chiefs and draining tension from the room.
“Yes our dear Empress,” Frox said giving an elaborate bow.
Empress tried to look severe but couldn’t stop the rolling laughter that burst forth.
“I can’t take you lot anywhere! Be gone with you, see to your projects. I’ll deal with the dreary paperwork by myself,” she said.
They shuffled out of the offices.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kuruvians move faster,” Buck commented, amused.
“Those bunch of hatchlings, give them a wrench a problem and they’re happy, paperwork, bah!” Empress said.
“Now where were we!” She said looking to the people in the room.
***
Takahashi had been Yasu’s mentor at one time, until she surpassed him and he became her student. They had been part of the Syndicate’s first ‘recruitment’ from Earth.
Takahashi didn’t think that Salchar had what it took to command the Free Fleet, thinking that he would get them all killed. He’d used Yasu and attacked him.
With time he’d come to understand that Salchar wasn’t a great leader, but he was the man the Free Fleet needed. He was driven to keep his people safe and protect others. He might look weak but it took a strong man to look over the weak.
Takahashi had been given a second chance and he happily taken it, he wasn’t a great admirer of Salchar’s but he felt a duty to those that placed their faith in him. He had trained thousands of Commandos and Free Fleet personnel on the very station he now stood in. He considered Hachiro his home, Japan was gone as was anyone from his old life.
He was a Commando and he lived to protect others, to see that what happened to him, never happened again.
“Ms. Li,” Takahashi said, bowing his head to the armored and armed tea shop owner.
“Ah, Commander Takahashi,” she said with an easy smile and kind eyes, totally at odds with the way she moved in her HAPA.
“I didn’t realize that you volunteered to come back into the service,” Takahashi said.
“Well I’m not about to let my home and business be taken by these bastards,” she said, none of the malice in her words passing to her face.
“Quite,” Takahashi said, giving her a smile that had become rare in the last months.
A message beeped for his attention, his smile evaporating as his visor snapped shut.
“Kalu are decelerating, the majority are headed to the planet, two splinter groups are heading for Nancy and Hachiro,” Peck reported in Takahashi’s ear. “They are entering the engagement envelope.”
Takahashi opened up a map of the station, containing the shipyard, their weapon ranges and the oncoming Kalu.
A flick and tap of the sensitive pads under his fingers connected him to Jorsht.
“Commander?” The previous owner of Parnmal asked. He had since been taking into custody, he had been one of the Syndicate’s most powerful members, now he served out his sentence as a Commando, currently he was coordinating between Hachiro and Nancy, he was a lot better at coordinating fixed emplacements. Takahashi was better at coordinating Commandos.
“Kalu should be coming in our engagement envelope. I’ll leave the tactical decisions up to you, I just ask that you only use the missiles as the Kalu turn to enter Mars,” Takahashi said.
“Oh they’ll know that they’ve been slapped Commander,” Jorsht said.
“Good, I’ll let you get to it,” Takahashi said.
“I want all rail guns on flechette on both stations, let’s see if we can’t fuck their lasers up. On my mark we’ll switch to penetrators. As soon as the laser cannons have range they’re to engage, same with the mines. The fuckers have nowhere to maneuver, let’s show them what that means! Coelda I want a missile solution shoved right up their asses when they try to make it through Mar’s atmosphere. Have five Planetary Rail Cannon platforms stay silent until the Kalu land. Their only going to come online to pound the ever-living shit out of the little bastards as they try to land. Domesk I’m looking at you, see that it’s done,” Jorsht continued, not noticing his channel was open. Takahashi closed it, a dark smile on his face, assured that he had picked the right person for the job.
Jorsht for all his faults knew how to make someone have a really bad fucking day.
Laser cannons started thundering as the plot became more confusing with the additional weapons fire. The Kalu, slowing down to match Hachiro and Nancy were showing their nice unarmored backsides to the weapon systems and various remote platforms.
After Earth’s rebellion the stations had rebuilt themselves, armed and armoring themselves against further attack from any would be attacker.
These people built the warships of the Free Fleet and many of them had connections to Parnmal. They were nowhere close to being the bastion of fire that Parnmal was, or even War-station. Yet they weren’t slacks when they had clear lines of fire, none of the Kalu could fire with their bow weapons facing away from the station and shipyard.
The gunners took advantage of all this, cutting down Kalu, engaging the Kalu on two sides instead of one. War-Station was no longer gaining on the Kalu, the ships had turned and were now using their engines to break the station’s inertia. War-Station’s engines were silent but his guns and the guns of the ships attached to it weren’t.
The Kalu lost ships, it was a sight that had been seen too many times before. Kalu ships gutted and destroyed, yet even with so many ships being destroyed, the writing on the wall was clear. The Kalu would land, how many depended on how many the guns destroyed.
Takahashi watched the display with cold calculation, looking at possible tracks that would carry the Kalu to Hachiro, Nancy or Mars below.
Alright you fuckers, let’s dance.
***
Min Hae looked at the closing wormholes at the edge of Quarst, Cheerleader and her fleet had been issued orders to take their hulks to Inkal’s yard. There were five ships that were in working order, the others had been ripped apart for materials and pulled to the Quarst stations where they would stay until someone could come and haul them back to a shipyard.
Thirty HCD’s had gone with Cheerleader to lend aid.
The remaining HCD’s that had raced from Daestramus were being broken down into smaller squadrons and sent to various resupply points, gathering supplies and heading to the warring planets hauling precious cargo that no other vessel except Jump fighters could match.
Verslva had arrived a day ago, Min Hae had transferred over to his command freighter. He was headed to Jakram, the start of a long journey to Parnmal.
Monk wanted to be out fighting the Kalu, but his duty to the station as well as his baby nephew Henry, kept him there.
Min Hae could free him and look into these rumors coming from across the Union. It seemed that p
eople weren’t happy with the power that the Free Fleet held. Even if it was being used to protect them, with one military power ruling over them with an iron fist, Min Hae could see where they were coming from.
He just needed to confirm the rumors and make sure that the leaders of the Union didn’t let those rumors go from concerns to genuine fear. Fear even if it wasn’t warranted would galvanize people to act.
It’s the same old game, politicans playing on fears to strike out against their targets. Saying that we’re war mongers and that we might turn our guns onto their planets. Like we would even be able to do that with all of the races that make up the Free Fleet!
He let his frustration subside. He’d been away from Parnmal for too long, it was time that he made sure that his house was in order and prepare it for what was to come. The Free Fleet’s duty was to fight; the Intelligence Departments job was to make sure that meddling hands didn’t mess that up while watching for possible obstacles.
“God I hate laser communications,” Ashota grumbled from his station.
“Hmm?” Min Hae asked, being pulled from his thoughts.
“Just got a response back from Kalvin now, Elisati is talking to him as an ambassador of the Independents. He’s been asking me questions non-stop but with the laser communications it only goes as fast as light, damned pain,” Ashota said, shaking his mane in annoyance.
“Laser communications are pretty damned fast, we can’t even travel faster than that in-system,” Gogs said.
“Though FTL relays are where it’s at. I thought that the Independents would have access to it already?” Gogs asked, his and Ashota’s attention on Min Hae.
“They will if they join the Union. No offense Ashota but your people have killed millions of people and are fighting the fleet,” Min Hae said.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect them to get it for some time, one more incentive to join I suppose,” Ashota said signalling his understanding.
“Also the FTL’s are a large expense, just connecting them will be expensive. We need to overhaul the old communications network and we don’t know what the Independent Kalu have to trade yet,” Min Hae said, looking to Ashota who looked rather displeased with the subject.
War's Reward (Free Fleet Book 6) Page 10