Rebirth (Game of the Gods Book 1)

by L. Fergus

  The Angels stood around preening, playing with hair, or checking makeup while they waited.

  “Six minutes, thirty-eight seconds,” Kita said when she finished.

  “Too bad we don’t have two of you,” said Valor.

  “It’s not exponential, you’d only gain a twelve percent increase.”

  “Thanks,” Valor said as she clapped the Diamock on the shoulder. She led the Angels back to their little corner.

  “Status, all stations!” Kita yelled, causing Valor to jump.

  “One thousand four hundred and fifty miles maintaining speed. Formation remains the same,” said Sensors.

  “Engines in combat mode. Hull integrity is at maximum. No internal or external damage to report. Everything is locked and ready,” said Engineering.

  “Course is steady,” said Navigation.

  “Medical bay is fully staffed and ready to accept patients,” said Medical.

  “Following enemy movements, awaiting engagement orders,” said Command.

  “Soldiers are armed and standing by for boarding orders,” said Combat.

  “Guns and cannons ready to fire,” said Gunnery.

  “Security personnel in position and ready to repel boarders and handle emergencies,” said Security.

  “Stores are prepared,” said Supply.

  “Everyone standby,” Kita yelled. “It’s about to get real.” She walked over to Cotton and waited for the Verisom to come up for air. “Are we getting help?”

  “None. Everyone thinks I’m out of my mind.”

  “They can’t see this on their sensors?” said Defiance.

  “They think we’re running some kind of unauthorized drill. The other militaries don’t believe the humans can strike this far.”

  “Well, they’ll know they can soon,” said Kita.

  “Know they can what?” Hali said, coming through the door in a float chair. Her dress had been replaced with a pair of combat fatigues.

  “Grand Ambassador, I hope you’ve found your stay and my soldiers to your satisfaction?”

  “Yes, it was—” Hali stopped when she saw Kita’s angry frown.

  “You’re only here because Cotton requested your help. So, park yourself in a corner and stay out of the way.”

  “I can walk.” Hali grimaced as she stood.

  “I’m going to want those fatigues back when you’re done. I can’t justify the expense.”

  “Kita,” Cotton snapped.

  “Fine, I’ll save it for later. But before you two start, we’ve worked out the plan on how to get to Enterprise.” Kita explained it to them.

  “If we jump to FTL I’ll lose my connections,” said Cotton.

  “Then we’d better get you someplace else.”

  “I’m not leaving,” said Cotton. “I—”

  “Captain, incoming ships’ formation spreading. We’re registering smaller contacts coming from Enterprise.”

  “Range?”

  “Twelve hundred miles and counting.”

  Kita looked at Hawke. The man shrugged an apology.

  “Those are the incoming fighters,” said Kita. “They’re going to close fast and hit hard. Gunnery, tell your people to look sharp and have those anti-boarding canisters ready.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Listen up, ladies,” Kita barked at Cotton and Hali, “It’s too late to move you. You’re going to have to find someone else to take over for you. I…”

  “Captain, new contacts. Twelve ships, eight hundred miles at fifteen degrees, increasing speed, a hundred miles above planar, coming in at forty-five degree down angle. Eighteen ships, nine hundred and fifty miles miles at two-eight-five degrees, increasing speed, two hundred miles below planar, thirty degree up angle.”

  “I knew this was too easy,” Kita yelled. “Sheppard wouldn’t come in deaf and dumb.”

  “All ships, all ships, evasive maneuvers, move to protective wheel formation. Prepare for new threats at two-eight-five degrees and fifteen degrees,” Cotton yelled to her captains.

  “Captain, an updated image of the new vessels,” said Sensors.

  Kita looked at it, then at the others for identification. They all shook their heads.

  “Can’t identify, Sensors.”

  “Captain, they’re closing as fast as the fighters.”

  “She’s going to pinch us, and there’s nothing we can do,” Kita snarled. “Everyone, prepare for FTL.”

  “Kita, I can’t leave. Not yet. My ships will be slaughtered,” Cotton cried.

  “This is the only way to save them.”

  “Let me engage them and prove this is a real fight. Once the Diamock fleet enters the fight, the humans won’t stand a chance. We’re going to have to stay here and take some hits.”

  Kita ground her teeth. “Belay FTL command,” she yelled. “Navigation, take us up above the Verisom line. Let’s give the humans a real punching bag to hit instead of the Verisom.” Kita looked at the other Angels and said, “This is going to get rough. So, hang on.”

  “When did you become the salty veteran battle captain?” Valor asked with a smile.

  “I haven’t, but I’ve seen it done a dozen times.”

  Mauler patrolled fifty miles above the Verisom Fleet as they moved in a giant three-level wheel. The forty ships didn’t present a wide front, but the constant moving made them harder to hit.

  Kita watched the display, waiting for the battle to join. The bridge was quiet. Everyone was doing the same thing, holding their breath, except for one person.

  “Are you worried?” said Hali to Kita.

  “Of course I am. I’m worried about my ship. I’ve already lost good soldiers today. I’m worried about Cotton and her fleet. I had to stop her from plucking out her own fur.”

  “We all have nervous ticks. Hers is just a visible one. I knew a colonel that’d chew on styluses until they were nothing but wires.”

  “Why are you talking to me?”

  “Because I wish to repair whatever damage I’ve done to our relationship. I wish us to be friends.”

  Kita laughed harshly. “Diplomats to the core, eh?”

  “I don’t see what is so funny about repairing a friendship.”

  “What friendship? You showed me around. You’re easy on the eyes. You got me where I needed to go. What friendship is there in that?”

  Hali smiled. “It’s the start of one.”

  “And why do you want to be my friend?” Kita tried to flip a holographic fighter off the screen with her finger.

  “Why does anyone wish to be friends? I believe you’re a person worth spending time with.”

  “And what do you offer me? Nothing.”

  “I am pretty to look at.”

  “So are Cotton, Jess, and Case. Just because you’ve got a pretty face doesn’t mean you’re my friend.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to know what I have to offer. I’m a trained soldier, and I have an ability. I heal four times as fast as any creature in the known galaxy. I’m well connected, and like Cotton, I can make life easy for you. I am sorry for what happened on the first day of the interview. Cotton assured me you’d think it was funny. You forgave her. Why not me?”

  “Easy, I don’t know you. I expected something like that out of Cotton. She and I have been at each other’s throats since we met. I should have expected something like that, but I was too busy worrying about what I was going to say. I was leaning on you for support. Imagine what it must have felt like to have that support pulled out from under you when you most need it?”

  “I am truly sorry. I did not know you were counting on me so heavily. I understand why you’re so upset with me. Trust like that is hard to rebuild once it is gone.”

  Kita nodded.

  “Can I make it up to you in any way?”

  “Maybe someday, but the first fighter is minutes out and targeting this Verisom frigate. I was hoping they’d come after us.”

  Hali grabbed Kita’s face in her hands and ki
ssed her. Kita recoiled with all her might. She shoved Hali across the room, she stumbled, hit a set of screens, and fell to the floor. Everyone in the room stared at her.

  “Get her out of here,” Kita roared.

  “What happened?” Cotton demanded. “I need her.”

  “She can connect from the brig.” Kita spat several times. “The damn bitch tried to kiss me.”

  “What?” Cotton gasped. “She wouldn’t dare.”

  “She did and at the worst time. We’ll sort it out later. That first wave should be reaching our ships.”

  Cotton returned to her screens. Kita flashed her face with flame, but it still wasn’t enough to get the taste out.

  “Enemy inside twelve miles,” reported Sensors.

  “Gunnery, hold fire. We’ve got to let these early ones in to prove they’re a threat,” Kita informed the bridge.

  The fighters swooped in firing on the Verisom ships following elliptical paths that let them attack then flee to a safe distance. Are they testing the range of the anti-fighter weaponry? How long will it be before they realize the Verisom don’t have any? It didn’t take long. Soon, the ships were swarmed with enemy fighters. The first Verisom ship exploded. Mauler attracted attention and Kita gave the order to use the anti-boarding shells. The first volley surprised the fighters, and the group retreated to fifty miles.

  “Cotton, any word on help?”

  “Nothing.”

  Kita couldn’t ignore the hurt and anger in the Verisom’s voice. “Cotton, I had nothing to do with it. I promise.”

  “I’m busy, Kita,” Cotton snapped.

  Kita ran her fingers through her hair tails. She wanted to find Hali and strangle her with them.

  Mauler shook. Looking at the display, she saw the fighters were back. The swarm split into three groups. One group stayed on an attack vector with the Verisom and her. The other two took a new trajectory away from the fighting. Puzzled, Kita zoomed the display out to see where they were going.

  “Cotton,” Kita cried. “Tell whoever’s in charge on the Tet to brace for impact. Two waves of fighters are headed their way.”

  All the blood drained out of the Verisom’s ears. Kita jumped across the room just in time to catch Cotton. “Easy, easy, easy,” Kita told her. She fanned Cotton until blood returned to her ears. A medic appeared at her side. He checked her over. “You ok?” Kita asked when Cotton’s eyes opened.

  “Yes, just overwhelmed. I’ll be ok. I need to get back.”

  Kita looked at the medic.

  “Normally I’d send her to med bay, but under the circumstances, I’ll stay here.”

  Kita helped Cotton to her feet and kissed her on the cheek. Mauler shook again. She watched as another pair of Verisom ships exploded. Every ship in the formation was under attack. The only ship destroying fighters regularly was hers, and more were targeting Mauler all the time. Mauler shook violently enough to toss people off their feet and out of their seats. Kita checked the display. The new swift attackers were within firing range. They were big enough to be targeted with the ship-to-ship weapons.

  “Gunnery, open fire on those incoming fast movers.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  The big guns fired. On the screen, a trio of the fast movers disappeared. Kita zoomed in on another fast mover. She wasn’t a ship person, but she guessed they were a mix of frigates, destroyers, and corvettes. Her guns fired and four more vanished. On the other side, more fighters were coming at them.

  “Gunnery, munitions update,” said Kita.

  “Half the stocks of anti-boarding rounds are left. All other rounds are full.”

  Kita grunted. She had to speed something up. “Gunnery, save two salvos’ worth of anti-boarding rounds for when we’re about to leave.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Security, get Grand Ambassador Hali in here.”

  Mauler shook several times before Hali arrived. “You want to do me a favor and get back in my good graces?”

  Hali nodded.

  “Contact someone to get us help. Cotton’s buried trying to keep her fleet from caving and has probably forgotten about getting help other than screaming for it. The Tet is about to know the humans are here. A swarm of fighters is going to tear through them. I suggest you tell whoever to get any ship they want to save out of the docks.”

  “What console can I use?”

  “Communications, give Grand Ambassador Hali a comm panel and connect her to whoever she wishes.”

  Kita pointed Hali toward the right station. She watched the woman take the ship’s shaking in stride. What kind of action have you seen?

  “Captain?” Kita motioned for Hali to go ahead. “The Diamock and Zentos Fleets are moving. Your warning and the appearance of hundreds of unknown contacts shooting at them was enough to get them moving. Cotton will have reinforcements in minutes.”

  “I hope she survives that long.” Kita pointed to the display. The Verisom were down to twenty-five damaged ships. “It’s time to get out of here. You ever try and kiss me again, and I’ll have your pretty hide tacked to my wall. You’re also to explain to Cotton why you did it.”

  “I’m sorry. I thought—”

  Kita held up a hand. “Tell her. I want her mad at you, not me.” She looked around the bridge. “All stations, prepare for FTL jump.” She received a cascade of replies.

  “Kita, we can’t leave,” cried Cotton.

  “Reinforcements are on the way.” Kita grabbed Hali around the waist and threw her toward Cotton. “She’ll tell you all about it.” Kita poked the ship’s PA system.

  “Attention all hands, this is Captain Kita. I want to thank everyone for bearing with us as we played sitting duck for the humans. I know they’ve scuffed our paint job, but I’m planning on capturing a few so they can fix it.”

  “Hold on,” Kita snapped at Valor. “I’m running the calculation a few more times.”

  “Why? We’ll be within a mile.”

  “I want to be closer and get inside their firing arcs. It’ll cut down on the amount of damage we’ll take.”

  Kita turned the computer back over to the FTL specialist when she was satisfied. The horn sounded for the FTL jump.

  “Give us time to get to the boarding area,” Kita instructed the specialist.

  “The coordinates will erode, the longer we wait.”

  “I know. That’s why I did extra.”

  Kita took Valor’s hand and phased out of the room. She jumped through the ship down to the boarding area where two thousand Diamock soldiers waited for orders to board the assault sleds. The sleds were little more than large projectiles shaped like spear points. After the sled had torn through the hull into the ships’ interior, the soldiers exited and swept the ship.

  Kita’s team waited for her. The three sleds taking them over would launch into Enterprise’s upper hangar. The hope was to find an elevator to take them to the bridge and catch Sheppard and her staff by surprise.

  The FTL warning system came over the speaker. “FTL jump in five…four… three…two…one…”

  Kita felt the familiar drop in her stomach.

  “FTL jump complete,” said the warning system.

  The ship shook as Mauler fired a full broadside into Enterprise. They fired twice more.

  All around her, soldiers jumped into the sleds. Green lights appeared above each one. The ship vibrated as sleds were fired.

  “Navigation, where are we?” Kita called as she waved her team into the sled.

  “On target, Captain. We’re within a quarter mile of Enterprise.”

  “Excellent. All stations, this is Captain Kita. I’m boarding my sled. I’ll reestablish contact when I’m aboard Enterprise. Commander Zak has the bridge.”

  Kita folded her wings around her and slid into the assault sled. She fastened the harness around her and hit the ready button. The craft’s hatches sealed.

  “Anybody scared?” said Valor.

  “A bit,” said Defiance.

 
; “Fear is good,” said a Diamock soldier. “It’ll keep you safe and heighten your senses.”

  “Just don’t let it get to you, girl,” said Hawke. “If you get overwhelmed find a safe spot and wait. Call one of us for help, and we’ll come take care of you.”

  “Thanks,” Defiance whispered.

  The sled fired. The sudden acceleration jarred Kita’s teeth and knocked her stomach into her throat. It was a wild ride with a deceleration even more violent.

  “Status?” said Kita.

  “Two unconscious,” a sergeant replied as the hatches of the craft blew off.

  How does anyone but a reinforced Angel stay conscious through that?

  “Everyone out,” the sergeant ordered. “Meet up with the platoon.”

  Kita let the Diamocks go first. She was in the remains of a fighter repair hangar. Emergency decompression doors had sealed the area. The Diamock team took out a mobile environmental sealer and a cutting torch. The sealer created a bubble of atmosphere. The crew cut into the door, but it opened when the pressure on their side of the door equaled that of the other side.

  The Diamock squad didn’t waste any time. They packed up the cutter and rushed through the door with weapons drawn. Sporadic gunfire echoed through the ship. But nothing major. The humans must be too stunned to react.

  Kita wanted as many humans taken alive as possible. She was serious about having her ship cleaned, but she also wanted Enterprise. It was a prize worth having.

  They found Onyx first. The Graniite had ripped the insides out of a sled to be able to fit. She smashed the wing of a broken fighter.

  “This is so much fun,” she said.

  “Easy on the equipment. We’re going to need it later,” Kita yelled.

  “I thought we were capturing the captain.”

  “Yes, but I want the ship, too. It’s too valuable to throw away.”

  Onyx sighed. “Pity.”

  “Mauler, Kita. I’m safe aboard Enterprise and have met up with Onyx. I have the Angels and Hawke with me. Has Cotton or Hali contacted you?”

  “Negative, Captain. We’re showing their sled breached two decks below yours.”