He and Kas continued toward the red glow on the horizon. It might have gotten a little brighter, but he believed they had a long way to go. He missed his sense of smell, and he was forced to rely mostly on vision. His eyes never stopped moving, always looking for movement of any kind, but especially red glows. He spotted one peripherally, and Kas must have seen it as well because they both sent red streaks toward it. The streaks traveled fast, but not so fast that he had difficulty following them. His struck first and there was an instant shriek. Kas’s struck a moment later, and something heavy fell to the ground.
He and Kas raced toward the felled creature, but when they got there they could not find anything.
But something found them. He and Kas both took hits from different directions. Each shrieked, seemingly an unavoidable effect of the streak hitting their minds. They both went to ground briefly, then moved to better cover and sighted in on the sources of the streaks. Before Lex fired, another streak came from his left, not toward him but toward his intended target. The streak hit solidly and something screamed. Another streak hit right behind the first and something fell to the ground with a thud.
Lex let out a low snarl, and two more Great Cats joined him.
“So it’s a mind game we play,” he said to them in greeting.
“Not so much a game,” Rose replied. “We do not know our target.”
“True. Kas and I are in agreement that we head for the glow on the horizon. We have no idea what it signifies, but we have no other clues.”
“The woman said the peicks could be defeated in the net. Maybe that’s how crew members were supposed to find them.”
“Maybe. It might be possible to defeat peicks, but I’m not certain we can defeat these super peicks. Nevertheless, that’s our task until we learn otherwise. Their weapons weaken us, and maybe ours weaken them as well. If so, it will be a battle of willpower, our strong suit. Move out.”
Four Great Cats spread out. Lex sent out another call, and before long the two remaining team members joined them. Six Great Cats was a formidable force, no matter who the enemy was. They were able to move more quickly now. The number of attacks against them increased, though in every case effective retaliation came from a neighboring Great Cat. Their strength decreased with each strike, but they had no choice—they had to continue.
Lex had no way of knowing for certain, but he believed the increased number of attacks against them meant they were drawing the attention of more peicks. If true, it might enable Lady Akurea to move more freely. Atiana’s name was also on the list of people who could stop the countdown, but in view of her severely limited understanding of the net, he doubted if she would have any success at all in this strange place.
* * * * *
Prior to her Knighting, Akurea had spent most of her career in Fleet Maintenance. When Lady Krys discovered her on Grnlee, she was commanding a major ship overhaul facility. She knew ships, but she was in no way a scientist. In fact, she proudly described herself as a mechanic and was most comfortable with her hands full of tools.
The net into which she found herself made no sense to her. To begin with, it was not really a net. She had access to only a tiny portion of the net, the part most fundamental to the AI, and she felt that access slipping away.
She confronted the AI and initiated the Korban program with her Imperial override. She made certain the program provided a two hour window for the countdown and that if any one of the individuals on the list entered the net during that two hour window, the countdown would be cancelled. If at any time after that any one of the individuals was again not in the net, the program would begin another countdown. The program would continue resetting itself until properly cancelled. She received acknowledgement from the AI, then she turned back to confront her adversaries.
She never even saw them. They literally thrust her aside, expunging her from the net effortlessly. They probably did the same to the rest of the ship’s crew.
She removed her helmet and considered: she had not seen anyone else in the net, so the countdown had probably begun the moment she was pushed out. The ship and everyone on it was doomed unless she could find a way back in. She tried the helmet again, but it was dead. She left her quarters and went to another room. There, she put on another helmet and attempted to go back into the net from a different physical location in hopes that the super peicks might not notice her.
She wasn’t sure if it worked or not. AI’s could create many different scenarios within their nets but this one made no sense. There was no ship at all, a first in her experience. She found herself in a misty swamp. She crouched down, then turned in a circle looking for any clue at all that might give her some kind of orientation.
She tried contacting the AI, but there was no response. She felt like she might be in the net, but it was almost like the net had not logged her in, like it did not recognize her. The thought horrified her—she could not reset the countdown without contacting the AI, and she had no idea how to do that.
What were these super peicks, anyway? What powers did they have? Claire said they had been designed to not only take the net away from the Chessori, but that they had the ability to defend their hold on the net. Well, they had taken control of the net from her, that much was certain. This strange place must be their method of defending that control.
The code Claire had given her was the only way to turn off that ability. Claire had mentioned a control panel, but Akurea had no idea where it was.
A screech sounded off to her right, how far away she could not tell. Then another screech in the same direction. A dim red glow lit the horizon in that direction and she wondered if it might be the Great Cats fighting super peicks. She headed off in that direction as stealthily as she could, moving between copses of gray, rotting trees. She had sent the Great Cats in here for a reason, to forge a way in ahead of her, so she had best take advantage of their efforts.
Without warning, something pierced her scull. She shrieked and reached for her head as she fell. She could not feel a wound, but the severity of the pain reminded her of the scree. She lay still for a time, then forced herself back to her feet and stumbled off in the direction of the continuing screams.
Another piercing pain. She shrieked, but this time she knew it was not a physical thing. She kept to her feet and actually managed an awkward jogging run, holding her hands to her head. She did not know if she was holding the pain in or trying to keep more pain from striking, but she seemed to need the feel of her hands on her head. She shuddered to think about what was happening to her real head outside the net. Did these creatures have the power to cause physical harm?
She endured several more strikes, but she still had no idea where they were coming from or how to defend herself from them. Her only purpose here was to find the control panel described by Claire, the panel that would disable the super peicks’ ability to defend the net, but she was not even certain she was going in the right direction.
* * * * *
Josh and his squad of marines reached the corridor outside the bridge, and as expected, the blast doors to the bridge were sealed shut. The corridor was 40 feet long by 10 feet wide and joined another corridor on each end at a 90 degree angle. The walls and ceiling were made from a firm but cushiony gray material that mated to a harder, non-metal covering over the deck plates, materials that Josh knew from experience would create smoke when struck by blasters.
He spoke to the marine squad leader, Lieutenant G’ma, who then deployed half of his men to each side corridor. G’ma himself went to work shooting sensors in the corridors, doing his best to blind the super peicks inside the bridge. Josh set his explosives, G’ma double checked them, then Josh yelled, “Fire in the hole.”
Everyone covered up. The charges went off simultaneously in a sharp explosion, and the entry team of ten marines raced toward the door, ready to charge into the bridge. The door showed only minor damage.
Josh was shocked. “This was supposed to work. I only have enoug
h for one more try,” he said. “Any suggestions?”
“Sorry, Sire,” G’ma replied. “The charges were set according to the book, but I think this door might have been built after the book was written. By design, there are no other entrances to the bridge. We need more explosives.”
“Josh looked at his timepiece and frowned. “We have to get inside the bridge within the next hour. Can you get to the armory and back in time?”
“I can. I’ll take half my squad with me and leave the rest here to hold the corridor for you.”
* * * * *
Aboard Galborae’s shuttle, he was mostly unaware of what was going on outside. He understood the tactics of fighting from a caravan, but fighting among ships in outer space was far beyond his ken and he knew it. His job and Limam’s, until reaching the cruiser, was to protect the pilots from any super peicks who might still be aboard.
Sergeant Roskov issued instructions to the other six shuttles. Without giving away details that might be overheard by the super peicks on the cruiser, he explained that their mission was to get Galborae on the cruiser at any cost. These marines had fought beside Galborae, some of them for years, and so respected was he that no one questioned the order. Aboard those shuttles, a flurry of activity ensued. Everyone suited up, including any marines on the lower deck, then the shuttles opened their ramps to space. They waited 15 minutes, then closed back up and restored pressurization and removed their space suits.
Roskov surrounded himself with other shuttles, then they all raced for the cruiser. Suddenly, the hangar bay doors on the cruiser closed and locked. Moments later, a single battery on the cruiser opened up on them and took out one shuttle with its first shot. The remaining shuttles split up and took evasive action.
Roskov made a snap decision and ordered everyone to head underneath the cruiser. Up and down had little meaning in space, but in this instance the pilots knew it meant to head for the side of the ship away from the guns. Roskov knew that one battery was bad enough, but clearly, the super peicks would have brought more guns to bear if they had them, meaning Weapons Control was not fully manned.
The shuttles closed on the cruiser, but when someone on the bridge got their act together and rolled the ship, the shuttles were again exposed to the guns. Powerful lasers reached out, but the shuttles evaded before the cruiser completed its roll, maneuvering to stay beneath its firing window.
At this point, the shuttles were too close to withdraw—the cruiser’s guns had excellent range, and anyone running away would be a sitting target. Roskov ordered everyone to move in tight on the cruiser. Getting close enough to a cruiser that its guns could not depress enough to fire meant getting inside its shield. Capital ships normally dropped their shields briefly when taking other ships aboard, but the super peicks surely would not be so obliging. The only way to comply with Roskov’s command was to bring the shuttles in close to the shield boundary, then very slowly sink through the shield, all the while rolling with the cruiser to stay outside of its guns’ firing window.
Only four shuttles succeeded. At Roskov’s command, each of them latched onto an external air lock on the cruiser. As soon as his own shuttle docked, he ripped the helmet from his head and raced down the stairs to the lower level. After fighting gleasons on Tranxte, the blood and body parts from Galborae’s battle did not slow him. He opened a hatch midway along the deck, exposing the shuttle’s docking port. He activated the controls and a heavy door irised open, but the door beneath, the outer hatch on the cruiser, would not move.
He turned and looked over to Galborae who had followed him. “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t get in. The peicks must have figured out what we were up to and locked the door from the bridge.”
“Stand back,” Galborae ordered. He took Roskov’s place and looked at the lock mechanism. “I might be able to cut it. If I can, where do I cut?” Galborae asked.
Roskov looked at him, then at the sword in his hand. He had seen the sword in action, but this? He scratched his head, then leaned in beside Galborae. “If you cut a hole, the cruiser will have to be repaired before entering atmosphere again.”
Galborae stared at him without remorse. “The cruiser is dead. It will never land again. Where do I cut?”
Roskov showed Galborae the outline of the hatch. “Cutting here will be the easiest. If you go outside this line,” he said pointing, “it will be much thicker.”
Galborae nodded grimly and motioned for Roskov to stand back. He activated the sword and lowered it to the hatch. Sparks flew and a high keening noise sounded, but the sword went into the metal. He worked it slowly, afraid of the sparks. While he worked, he said to Roskov, “Any ship that opened its doors on the surface of Harac will be left behind. Please contact the frigate. It might be our only sanctuary when we’re done here. Whatever they do, they are not to come in contact with any other ship until ordered to do so by a Knight.”
Roskov scratched his head. “I’ll send the message, but they will not feel bound to obey a message from me.”
Galborae kept cutting, but he turned his head and peered hard into Roskov’s eyes. “Remember what I told you about the Leaf People. Today, your orders are given in the name of the Queen.”
Roskov returned to the bridge to send his message to the frigate. When he returned, Galborae asked, “Well?”
“Your reputation is wider than I knew. Captain Shlu didn’t hesitate to say he would comply.”
Cutting through the hatch took ten minutes. Just before Galborae completed the cut, Roskov called the bridge and ordered the pilot to increase the pressurization. Galborae felt his ears popping, but the trick worked—the hatch blew into the cruiser.
Galborae deactivated the sword and Roskov pushed past him with his blaster searching for anything that moved. The lock was empty. He called to the pilot, then went feet first through the hatch.
“Isn’t your place with your shuttle?” Galborae asked.
“No, Sire, it’s with you.” The pilot joined them and went into the lock, then Galborae went in and lifted his arms to Limam. She half stepped, half fell into his arms, and he lowered her to the deck.
“We’re going to the bridge,” Roskov said. “I imagine our guys are trying to break in, but they might need a little help. I like what you did with your sword. Are you ready to try it again?”
Galborae grinned. “I don’t know the way.”
“I do,” Roskov said, then turned to activate the interior lock controls. The lock failed to activate, and Galborae had to cut through that door as well. Ten minutes later they were through the hatch and headed toward whatever they would find at the bridge.
* * * * *
In sick bay, Tsarnov called Claire to his side. “Josh is having trouble getting into the bridge. Lady Akurea has been cut off from the net, so we know the peicks still control the net. The clock is definitely running.”
“If I can get Queen Atiana into the net, the peicks will know where we are and they will come if they can,” Claire replied. She looked into his eyes from inches away, both of them thinking the same thing—they had no other choice. She nodded once, then turned and went back to Atiana.
“Your Majesty, you might be the last one on the list of who can stop the countdown, and we’re out of time.”
Atiana nodded and reached for her helmet, but Claire stopped her. “Not yet. Lady Akurea told me an hour ago that the super peicks had gotten a strong foothold. By now, they might be in complete control of the net. I have no idea what we’ll encounter in there, but if they prevent your entry, the ship and everyone on it could be lost. Let me go in first. I’ll do my best to distract them.”
Atiana nodded, her eyes filled with worry for this young woman whom she barely knew. She knew Claire well enough to know that if Claire was worried, then she should be worried as well, though she had no slightest concept of what Claire was talking about. All she understood was that there would be danger and maybe some fighting. Well, she was a warrior. She would do her part.
&n
bsp; Claire picked up the helmet but stopped with it half way to her head. “We programmed an off-response into the peicks’ DNA as a safety. There’s probably only one super peick in command of the net. If things get really bad in there, our job is to reach it and activate its off-response.”
Atiana looked at her in alarm. “I have no idea what you just said.”
Claire lowered her helmet and bit her lip. “If they’ve taken complete control of the net, the only way we can stop the countdown is to find a control panel. If we can enter the right code into it, the super peicks will not be able to keep us out of the net.”
“If they’re like peicks,” Atiana said.
Claire nodded in response. “Good! You understand. In case I’m not with you, I need you to remember this code: 9238#TJB45. You will have to input it on a virtual control panel.”
Atiana made no reply. She just stared at Claire.
Claire got the message and frowned, then nodded in understanding. “You said you’re from an emerging world. I’m sorry, but I have to ask—can you read and write?”
“I can in my own language.”
Claire’s lips compressed as she lifted her head and stared at the ceiling. She asked for Atiana’s pad and entered the code on a blank page. “Memorize this picture,” she said to Atiana. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be there to do it, but I can’t be certain. I’m going in now. Since I’m new to this net, it will take me a minute or two to get in.” Without delay, she placed the helmet on her head and lay on the deck beside a bed with her eyes closed.
Atiana stared at Claire for a moment, then studied the picture Claire had made on her pad. When she next looked to Claire, her eyes were clenched shut hard and her body was rigid. A moment later, tears began seeping from between her eyelids. Atiana knew it was time.
Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights Page 54