Michael Felix responded, “There is another interface Mr. Grange. Alvarez told me just before he left. He was one of the original keepers of the remote drive console secret. Aside from the two remote locations, there is a third interface in the main gravity drive control room.”
I replied, “We captured the control room earlier. All the equipment in there has been destroyed.”
Felix replied, “Yes, all the visible equipment.”
My eyes moved to my arm pad with laser focus. “What do you mean the visible equipment?”
Felix replied, “The interface in the control room is behind the large blank wall. They covered it over completely to conceal its location. I don’t know why Alvarez did not relay this information to all of the teams. Perhaps he hoped for the glory of accomplishing the jump himself. Whatever his reason, it died with him.”
I spoke, “But the console you have, it won’t work on any other interface except B23X. We just found that out.”
Felix replied, “Except for the one in the main room. It will accept any of the consoles.”
I stood as I spoke, “Where are you Felix?”
Felix began to reply, but was cut off. Blaster fire could be heard in the background. “I’m… I’m coming down Transway-3 to your level now! There are a large number of Helgrons coming after me!”
I looked at the Colonel.
The Colonel spoke, “On it! Kanger! Helms! Get your asses to Transway-3! We have Helgrons coming in force!”
I handed the 12mm gun to the Marine standing next to the Colonel and sprinted towards the trans-way.
I spoke to Felix over the comm, “When you get to this level go left! I will meet you just around the first corner to the right! And hustle Felix! We need that console!”
As I entered the hallway in question Michael Felix rounded the corner. Eight of the Colonel’s men ran past me as Felix came to a stop.
He was breathing heavily, “Here Grange, take this. I need a rest.”
I opened a comm channel to Frig. “We are back in business! I need a portal opened to my location immediately!”
Michael Felix looked confused as I spoke. “Portal? What’s a portal?”
Frig replied, “Locked Sir, I would suggest you move from that location.”
I grabbed Michael Felix by the upper arm and pulled him three meters down the hall. The air where we had been standing began to crackle and glowed orange just before the portal opened.
Michael Felix stepped back. “What the…”
A plank was lowered through the hole and the console was laid out on it. When the plank returned I grabbed Michael Felix, again by the arm and gestured towards the plank.
I spoke, “Lay your ass down there and let’s get out of here.”
As Felix was pulled through the open portal the confused look remained on his face. The plank returned and I was soon through as well.
I switched comm channels to the Colonel. “Colonel, contact the Admirals and have every man available converge on Lima-22 and the gravity drive control room! We are going to take it and we are going to hold it at all cost!”
I turned to Frig, “How many of those 12mm guns does Jeb have ready?”
Frig replied, “His last status indicated his production line could now handle 50 per hour and should be approaching 200 per hour within eight hours. That was twenty minutes ago Sir. His ammunition line is producing 3,000 rounds per hour with 8,000 expected within that same eight hour window.”
I replied, “Start picking out locations along the Colonel’s and Admiral’s paths where we can start dropping those guns and ammo. Organize a line of people on this side so we can pass as many of those weapons through as possible. It’s time we taught those Helgrons what it means to fight with Humans!”
All Gray Ghouls and Grid Marines began to converge on Lima-22. It was our final push to get the Grid moved to a new location, a location where Durians were no longer a threat. It was our last shot at freedom and we would do whatever was needed to make the jump happen. We had no other options.
As I turned to see Ashley she had her arms around Michael Felix.
I spoke with a sarcastic tone, “Oh, so that’s how it is? Always moving to the newest hero are you?”
Ashley slowly released Michael and stepped up to greet me. “I like an active hero, yes. Never was much for has-beens!”
I was suddenly in an embrace with the woman I loved. All of our troubles quickly faded as my blood pressure began to rise. When our lips parted I was in a new place. I was back on that ridge with the cool wind blowing through Ashley’s hair. For a moment, I was all smiles.
Frig spoke, “Sir. Sir! I’m sorry to interrupt, but the Colonel is signaling your comm.”
I pressed the comm button and replied, “Yes Colonel?”
The Colonel spoke, “Grange! Any luck with those hardened suits? The Durians are again changing tactics! They have shields made out of the same material as those suits. Those 12mm rounds blow a nice hole through the shield, but they then don’t penetrate the suit. Our troops are taking it hard on the chin. I have two squads entering the control room right now. One heck-uv-a fight going on. Get that console down there and get us out of here while there are still us to get!”
I replied, “Yes sir Colonel! Heading that way now!”
I spoke to Frig, “Can you find us a room near the control room that is unoccupied?”
Frig replied, “Scanning now Sir. It appears as though L2214 is open Sir. It is three hallways from the control room, but we do not yet control that area.”
I replied, “Drop us in there anyway. I want to be as ready as we can be when that control room is ours.”
I turned to look at the others in the room. “Do we have the needed equipment to get to that interface?”
Ashley pulled her laser cutting tool from her satchel.
I turned back to Frig. “Drop us in that room and then start moving every one of my squad members in here with us, if there is space for them. When we hit those hallways I don’t want some Durian straggler ruining our parade!”
We soon found ourselves in what appeared to be the playroom of a child care facility. Brightly colored posters adorned the walls promoting clean hands, sharing and fair play. I remember spending countless hours in a similar room as a child. When playtime came I would rush to the corner where the war and space toys were kept. I had endless battles with the other children from military families. It was one of my only fond memories of the time as my father was constantly away.
I pulled out a small plastic chair with fat legs and sat down. Ashley smiled at the sight of the tall warrior sitting on the small chair.
I spoke, “I remember these chairs seeming huge. I used to hate when the bare backs of my legs would stick to that plastic. They made us all wear these stupid little uniforms that were shorts, but they had those straps that went over your shoulders to keep them up. I was constantly in trouble from pulling those straps off the girls’ shoulders just to be a pest.”
Ashley replied as she sat down on my lap, “Were there any special girls in your class?”
I smiled as I looked around the room, “There was one, Wanda. I couldn’t stop liking that girl after she punched me in the ear. Funny what I used to find attractive in a girl. I…”
Frig came on the comm. “The Colonel reports having taken the control room Sir. I show clear hallways between you and them. This would be an ideal time to move Sir.”
I stood and gave the order, nearly dumping Ashley onto the floor. Frost led the squad out the door and we quickly moved the three hallways over to the control room. When we entered there were four Marines there, they were busy checking every nook and cranny for a hideaway.
Ashley pulled out her torch and began to cut wall plating from the center of the blank wall. A hidden closet was soon found and a doorway cut through to it. Once the surrounding metal had cooled sufficiently I stepped through. The interface was there, waiting for the console I carried.
As I connected the console I spoke, “OK, Miss Elizabeth. Get in here, fire this thing up and enter those numbers!”
Ashley was quickly by my side. The first three locks were opened and the coordinates for our jump were entered.
Ashley looked up at me as she reached for the big blue launch button. “Wish us luck!”
The button was pressed. Several seconds of nothing tore through our souls as we waited for some indication that the gravity drive was active. A loud alarm horn soon sounded in the control room. The deep metallic booms of the drive actuators moving into place could be heard as they sounded through the structure of the great station. Seconds after the last of the giant actuators spun into place, Grid #4 began to move.
For a moment the fighting in the halls came to a halt. Humans could be heard screaming with elation and new hope as they continued the process of removing the menace that had plagued our home. The great station offered a familiar vibration as the gravity drives accelerated, leaving the ships of our enemies behind.
As the Grid began to accelerate I raised the Durian commanders on the comm. “As I’m sure you know by now this station is moving away from your support systems. You will no longer be resupplied or reinforced. I am offering you this one opportunity to end this now and for you to peacefully leave. I’ve already spoken to the Dakar through our liaison and through them to the Prassi. They wish to leave.”
The Durian commander replied, “How do we know this is not some trick? You Humans have already proven that you are devious.”
I replied, “I think you have a poor impression of us General Byis. You are confusing devious with clever and resilient. We don’t give up easily General. We may go quiet, but we are always working on a solution. None of that matters now anyhow. If you so choose, we will provide you with every transport on this ship to load your soldiers onto. You will then be dumped out to wherever we are, hopefully with enough supplies for you to make it back to where we started. You have ten minutes to decide General.”
I continued, “You can save yourself and your soldiers and fight another day. Or you can die here on this ship, or become the slave of a Human master. Just keep in mind General, the longer you wait the longer your journey home will be. This station will be leaving the current sector in about five minutes.”
The speed at which the Grid was accelerating was a bluff. I had no idea of how quickly the Grid initially moved, but neither did the Durians. The General and his staff discussed the issue for nearly a minute.
General Byis replied. “We will accept your offer Human.”
…..
When the last of the invaders had boarded a transport and that transport was launched out into the surrounding space I sat down with a sigh.
A Marine came in with news, “Sir, we found Sergeant York Sir. They took her arms and legs from her. Other than being full of rage over it, she is in good health Sir.”
I could not help but smile at the thought. Ashley stood beside me with her hand on my shoulder. We were once again a free people.
Ashley spoke, “What about Frig and the others on the Suppressor?”
I replied, “They will be fine so long as they don’t let the Durians catch up to them. The Suppressor and the rest of our fleet should be on its way to the coordinates you gave Frig. Once we have stopped they can make contact and send people through if needed.”
Ashley offered a coy smile as she spoke, “I guess you may need a new friend to pal around with in the meantime Mr. Grange. Would you have anyone in mind?”
I put my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Yes I do. Miss Elizabeth. Yes I do. I was really hoping to get to know Michael Felix better. He is quite the hero!”
Ashley struggled to pull away as I continued with my ruse. “But someone has come along that puts Michael Felix far away. And I hope that someone feels the same way I do.”
I stood, again pulled her close. The conversation ended with a long embrace and passionate kiss.
With the enemy gone the celebrations began in earnest. People streamed out of their apartments, filling the halls with cheers and excitement. That excitement however was short-lived. Our people were hungry, our systems in need of repair. We had much work to do to get the Grid back to its normal operational status. But we had time. Our jump to a new location would take over a year.
~~~
What’s Next!
This Human is asking for your help!
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I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading this book. The first chapter of the next book in the series is provided below, I hope you will enjoy it as well!
Steve
AMP
5
Colossus
Chapter 1
Two months into our journey to a new sector a rumble rolled through the station. Actuator-11 was offline, sending the Grid in a new direction.
I walked into an ongoing staff meeting and spoke, “Colonel, Senators, we have discovered the reason for the failure. A Durian saboteur had been in hiding since we sent the rest of them packing. He managed to set off an explosive device, damaging some of the equipment that provides power to the actuator. We can repair the damage done to the equipment, but we cannot make corrections to our direction as we had previously entered. We will be stopping somewhere other than our intended destination. Let’s just hope it’s not right beside a white hot sun.”
The Colonel replied, “Were we able to catch the Durian?”
I sat at the table. “The Durian blew himself up. It must have been a desperate move or a foul-up on his part as they aren’t known to be martyrs. I’m told our direction may be skewed by a full degree. Instead of stopping in a sector with only a few scattered star systems we will end our journey in the thickest part of the galaxy arm. There will very likely be other star traveling civilizations there. Let’s just hope they are friendly because we have no space fleet to defend us and as always, our resource stores will be running low upon our arrival.”
Admiral Zimmerman spoke, “Too bad Frig can’t open a portal large enough to pass a ship.”
Admiral Chaulk replied, “If we’re making wishes Zimmerman, I would like a magic hat.”
Admiral Chaulk had a dry sense of humor and always displayed a serious face. His comment drew chuckles from the other members of the meeting.
Zimmerman shook his head and continued, “If Frig was able to track our location and follow, how long before he arrives with our ships?”
I replied, “The estimates, as I understood them, are just over five years. What should concern us about that is the Durians can be here in less. Their ships are faster than ours. If they wanted to catch us, they could do so before we had another chance to jump. The fastest recorded filling of those hydrogen tanks for the gravity drive is seven years and two months. With those faster ships, we can no longer just outrun our enemies.”
The Colonel spoke, “We have several of those hardened Helgron suits for study as well as a few of their blasters. Our lab rats are attempting to replicate them as we speak. If they do catch us, they will have a much harder time taking this station. We know how they fight, we know how they move and we know how they think. But I will have to admit, I would prefer to fight them out there and not in our hallways.”
The Colonel gestured towards the space outside of the Grid. Tha
t was his domain. Ship-to-ship battles were what his Gray Ghouls had trained for and fought during most of their military lives.
The Colonel continued, “Grange, we have been discussing the fact that this station no longer has a president. The staff here and I are of the opinion that you should assume that roll until such time as normal elections are held. That would likely be once we are settled into our new location.”
I stood and replied, “Ah, no thanks. I’ve assumed that type of position for far longer than I wanted to. There has to be others who are qualified for that.”
I looked around the room. Michael Felix sat in a chair beside the wall, away from the main table.
I spoke, “As much as I hate to say it, and I will likely regret this, but Felix over there would be a good candidate. He enjoys the whole politico/administrative thing. Make him your figurehead.”
The room turned to look at Michael Felix. He stood and neatened his clothes.
The Colonel spoke, “Well Felix? You interested in running this place? You would of course be answering to this group at the table.”
Michael Felix cleared his throat and responded, “It would be an honor and a privilege. I do have experience managing business, people and of course my time in politics, although somewhat short, adds governance to my resume.”
The Colonel turned back, “Unless anyone has objections, I think we have our interim president.”
The room was silent. I looked back over at Felix and he was turned towards a mirror on the wall and was primping himself.
I thought out-loud, “What have I done.”
Michael Felix turned towards me, “You have nothing to worry about Mr. Grange. I will soon have this station operating in an efficient manner. And it will be to the wishes of this… council.”
I replied, “Efficient manner… just keep in mind Felix, you screw this up, you get spaced!”
I turned away from Michael Felix and towards Ashley Elizabeth. “Other than bringing news of the actuator investigation, I thought I might try to lure one of your council members away for a bite of lunch. Miss Elizabeth, would you care to join me?”
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