Star Crusades Nexus: The Second Trilogy

by Michael G. Thomas

  Teresa sighed, clearly irritated.

  “I take it you’ve seen the news from Sol, Admiral. General Rivers says Mars has been attacked, and the Rift has been reopened.”

  Anderson nodded.

  “Yes, I know. Admiral Churchill and Commander Osk are already arranging a strike team for you as we speak. Take your ship and get back as quickly as you can. Admiral Churchill will command the operation.”

  Teresa was confused.

  “Operation? Did you know about this Admiral?”

  He raised one eyebrow at her question.

  “Colonel, you know how these things work. We are at war with these machines, and with their fleet smashed; there is just the force in Sol left to deal with. Admiral Churchill will command the fleet element. You will liaise with him on the ground package.”

  The image vanished, and she looked dumbfounded as the other officers looked at her. Again it was Olik that spoke first, and unlike the others, he had no problem in speaking his mind.

  “Back and forth we go. Does this mean I’ll get to kill more Biomechs?”

  Teresa thought back to the fighting on Prometheus, the blood and carnage that had littered the place. After all of that, and the first thing Olik wanted to know was if he would be doing more. The thought that Spartan might be there filled her with an odd mixture of joy and desperation.

  “Olik, we’re going to the Rift right away. Once we’re through, we’re taking the Terra Nova Rift and then on to Sol. If there are Biomechs there, I promise you, you’ll get first go at them.”

  Olik looked more than happy at this news.

  “Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

  Major Terson was the only one that didn’t seem particularly overjoyed at the prospect of their return.

  “I thought the Admiral said we were to meet Churchill at Prometheus first. Then assemble ground forces and move on to Mars?”

  Teresa shook her head.

  “No, that is all going to take too long. We have Dreadnought and Tamarisk. We’ll go there first. Churchill can come after us.”

  She looked to Director Johnson and expected a fight.

  “Agreed?” she asked.

  Director Johnson just smiled.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  After the disaster of Eos, there were many throughout the Alliance that clamored for a complete pullout of the Orion Nebula. The Rift operated from Prometheus was the only link to this new part of space, and it was there that much of the ire was directed. The Alliance plan, known later as the Prometheus Offensive, proved a political masterpiece. Few could deny the effect the destruction of the entire Biomech fleet in Alliance territory had on its citizens. If the Biomechs could be beaten at home, then they could be beaten at Helios. The bold move by General Rivers and his key commanders put the Alliance’s attention back on Helios and its new friends and enemies so many light years away.

  Orion – The future?

  They had been on the landing pad for over two hours now and were still waiting for help. Though a few had complained at falling back, the sight of more than fifty enemy soldiers moving across the open ground toward the more distant landing area had reminded them of quite how precarious their position was. The pad itself was much larger than Spartan had expected. His initial estimate was that something the size of a medium sized Alliance transport or even a military escort minesweeper could probably make it down there. With its raised height, it gave an excellent view of the surface of Mars. A low folding wall ran around the outside of the flat surface, but it did little to protect you if you inadvertently stepped off the edge.

  “Any news from Dauntless?” he asked impatiently.

  Captain Cobb looked up to the sky as if expecting to see the craft right above them.

  “They sent our emergency evacuation signal through the Rift as soon as we broadcast it. There’s nothing coming back yet though.”

  Spartan grumbled, and Khan walked to one for the railings and struck it hard with his left fist.

  “Maybe being up here wasn’t such a good idea,” said one of the operatives.

  Z'Kanthu, the Biomech walked around the perimeter of the landing area and looked down into the damaged sections of the base. The distant mountains were already well obscured by the dust storm that was moving ever closer.

  “If we are to leave this place, we will need somewhere a ship can land.”

  He then pointed down over the edge of the platform to the refinery complex and into the deep depression that looked much like the center of a volcano. Spires, shafts, and towers all pushed upward to give it a half completed look.

  “The enemy controls down there. They have cover, darkness, and a storm to help them. The only way to reach us here is through that passageway.”

  He looked to the direction of the entrance. It was very wide, and as well as space to walk, there were also two separate sets of maglev tracks for the rail system back into the base. Z'Kanthu moved toward the entrance and lowered down onto his haunches.

  "They are coming."

  Spartan and Khan went to his right, both holding up their weapons to point in the same direction. Cobb and the other operatives stayed further back on the platform, behind the cover offered by the containers and discarded machinery lying about. Marcus moved to the communications gear and continued to send information up to Dauntless.

  "How many?" Spartan shouted out.

  The machine twisted his head and looked down at the human. Spartan was a big man, but even he looked puny when compared to the monstrous Biomech.

  "More than you will be able to stop."

  Khan laughed.

  "We've killed enough before, and we're going to keep on doing it."

  The machine turned his attention to Khan and then looked back down the tunnel.

  "They are not interested in you. Now that the enemy knows I am alive, they will stop at nothing to take me prisoner, or to destroy me. The destruction of one of the remaining rebels is worth an entire planet to them."

  "So go back down the tunnel and leave us be," suggested Cobb.

  The machine swiveled about to stare at the man from Earth.

  "If it would protect your species, I would. My life is better spent making a difference in this war. I have knowledge of the old Bridge network, and a deep understanding of their strengths, numbers, and strategies."

  "He's right," Marcus agreed.

  He had left the equipment and joined Spartan on the firing line at the mouth of the tunnel. There were more than twenty civilian workers on the platform, of which only half carried weapons. They had joined Cobb and his own team behind cover.

  "The shuttle is on its way. ETA four minutes."

  He looked to Spartan and then tilted his head and indicated toward Z'Kanthu. There was no need to say anything even though it had evidently not occurred to the others. There was absolutely no way that all of them and Z'Kanthu would be able to escape the planet on just one shuttle. Spartan nodded, agreeing without opening his mouth.

  "Now," said the machine.

  The first to move out from the shadows were the bipedal warriors Z'Kanthu had called Thegn foot soldiers. Seven ran as fast as they could, their red eyes dancing about like glowworms as they moved. Spartan and Khan fired first, and their accurate fire hit the first few directly in the face. Two dropped to the ground, but the rest kept moving. More shapes moved behind as well at the glinting of bare metal machines.

  "Spartan, the outside!" Cobb shouted out.

  Spartan emptied his clip before turning to look at the Captain.

  "What is outside?"

  He didn't want to leave the line, but Z'Kanthu turned his main guns on the enemy, and for a few seconds at least, he had cleared a path and given them a moment's breathing space. Cobb waved at them desperately, and Spartan broke ranks, cursing under his breath.

  "What the hell is..."

  He leaned over the side of the landing platform and look down its steep sides. The first tendrils of the dust storm had already arrived
and had washed out the ground to give the effect of a yellowish fog, made worse by the rising sun in the distance.

  "There!" Captain Cobb interrupted.

  Spartan looked at the actual bedrock the tower had been built on top of. At first he saw nothing, then the movement caught his eye.

  "No, it can't be?"

  He lifted his weapon and used the optical scope to improve the view and almost dropped the weapon. The eight-legged robotic soldiers had found a way to the base of the tower and were climbing their way up like a group of horrific metal spiders. He lost counted at eleven, and below them he could see more shadows.

  "Great, that's just great!"

  He turned back to Captain Cobb and grabbed his shoulder.

  “Get the civilians along the wall. Use guns or throw machinery. I don't care, just keep them busy."

  Another volley of gunfire announced the next major wave through the tunnel.

  "I need your operatives with me."

  He ran back and almost made it to Khan when two of the machines clambered over the edge near to where his friend waited. It pulled back its legs and then kicked out to jump toward him.

  "Khan!" he shouted.

  The Jötnar warrior had blocked his line of sight, and even as he ran, he knew Khan was going to be struck. The machine lurched from the ledge and flew through the air. Khan had already turned about but was only half there as it reached him. With a sickening crunch, Z'Kanthu smashed Khan aside and took the impact directly on his chest. His immense size and weight stopped him from falling, but he still staggered back and was unable to shoot for a few seconds. The machine roared something in his own tongue and over speakers installed somewhere inside the armored carapace. With a hard tug, it tore the limbs from the machine and threw the flailing wreckage over the edge.

  "Spartan, the tunnel!" Marcus shouted.

  The enemy was now out of the tunnel and swarming about the open space on the landing platform. Khan and Spartan moved off to the one side to join the three Earthsec operatives who continued to put down heavy gunfire into the approaching Thegns. More had reached the fight with firearms, and these Thegns were much more cautious and made use of the cover offered by the dead. They stayed low and managed to pick off two of the operatives without them even being seen. Spartan tried to drag the wounded men back, and then they were on them. The first brought down both of its blade toward Spartan who lifted his left arm, blocking them with his new armored forearm. It flashed and sparked but incredibly absorbed the impact.

  "My turn!"

  He lifted his modified pair of TEK40 rifles and riddled the creature with holes. Even this rifle had no trouble causing damage at a distance of less than a meter. Another two knocked him back, and one stabbed at him. This time Spartan barely managed to avoid the strike and took a painful slash to the leg. He instantly felt the cold air of Mars rushing in around his flesh. The next one moved in to stab at his face, but Cobb emptied a full clip into its torso, almost cutting it in half.

  Z'Kanthu roared again and manhandled several of the Thegns out of the way, using his body to shield the two of them.

  "Stop them getting up here!" he said, turning back to swing and strike against the never-ending attackers. Spartan began to move and then stopped, only for a second to watch the mighty machine tear the Thegns apart one by one as they swamped him.

  Damned crazy machine.

  He was impressed with his combat abilities but far from concerned for his fate. That wouldn't happen just because he’d killed a few expendable Thegns.

  "Khan, with me!"

  They ran over to the edge and joined the rest of the civilians at shooting the machines climbing up the sides. They were now less than thirty meters away and making good progress. Spartan took aim and fired, but the machines were tough, and not easy to hit as they lifted themselves up the vertical surface. Half of them were now obscured by the rising tide of dust.

  "Marcus, where is that damned shuttle?" Spartan hollered.

  An explosion knocked Marcus to the ground, and he was dragged behind the overturned containers being used by three of the civilians. Thegns had now taken control of the entrance to the tunnel back into the base. They had dragged a large container and a number of bodies to create an improvised barricade from which to launch additional attacks. Dozens more were engaged in a brutal firefight and melee throughout the landing pad, and it had quickly degenerated into a series of small skirmishes.

  Z'Kanthu helped where he could, but most of the Biomech creatures seemed to be attacking all of the time anyway. Every time he threw one over the ledge, another three took its place. One of the eight-legged machines managed to tear a chunk from the motorized knee joint on his leg, and Z'Kanthu dropped to one knee. On his own, and in the middle of the landing pad, he was overwhelmed. They piled onto him like bugs devouring a carcass. Khan shook his head angrily and looked down at the bodies of the Thegns. He dragged the nearest one to him and ripped out the blades from its arms.

  "Spartan!"

  He tossed one to his friend and then broke from cover, ignoring the bullets striking his armor and barged directly into the nearest Thegns around the fallen Z'Kanthu.

  "Help him!" Spartan ordered.

  Few could respond, but by the time Spartan had reached Z'Kanthu, there were another four civilians with weapons taken from the dead doing their best to help. A Thegn killed one, but the others made their presence felt. A dozen of the enemy was killed in as many seconds, and Z'Kanthu managed to lift himself up slightly, only for the shape of one of the massive six-legged walkers to emerge from the tunnel. A loud voice boomed from inside, and the Thegns quickly scattered to leave the damaged Z'Kanthu, Khan, Spartan, and two of the remaining civilians exposed in the middle of the platform. The gun turrets swiveled to point at Z'Kanthu, and a high-pitched whine built up pace as the barrels began to rotate.

  "No!" Khan screamed.

  He stepped in front of Z'Kanthu and aimed his shortened TEK40 at the machine’s torso. He didn't even consider negotiating and pulled the trigger. Lights flickered about its armor as the bullets scratched and dented the metal plating. Then the machine opened fired and vanished in a bright yellow explosion that sent metal and ammunition flying in all directions.

  "Get down!" shouted one of the civilians.

  More gunfire struck around them, and scores of Thegns were cut to ribbons by large caliber guns. Dust filled the platform, and the scream of machinery deafened them all. Spartan was knocked to the ground. He looked up to see a Thegn looking down at him, its weapon lifted high above its head. Then everything above its waist vanished, leaving the lower half of its body standing there like a broken statue.

  What the hell is going on?

  He rolled over and lifted himself back up to his knees. All around him lay bodies, but he could still see Thegns heading for him. He took aim, but more powerful guns slammed into them. These were no TEK40 rifles though. High rates of fire and powerful cannon tore them apart like the guns of armored vehicle. He twisted back and saw a dark shape on the platform. He'd expected a small shuttle, but instead the craft barely fitted on the platform. It was a small transport about half the size of Dauntless. Its engines sent dust flying all about and directly at his visor. Six shapes moved toward him, and he lifted his weapon.

  "Spartan, stay down!" said one of them.

  He didn't recognize the voice, but the fact it knew him gave him a moment’s hope. He kept his head down but only for a moment. More heavy gunfire followed, and then the dust began to clear a little. The shapes altered to show the forms of six warriors, each in dark red armor. They reminded him of conventional marines but were bigger, and equipped with the additional neck and collar protection fitted on all current issue armor patterns. They were much too big to be normal marines.

  Jötnar?

  They moved toward him, each carrying the biggest weapons he'd ever seen in the hands of a humanoid before. They carried on past him at a slow walk, each of them blazing away and cutting down every
last Thegn. Spartan shook his head in shock, but it wasn't the Jötnar that made his heart almost stop. It was the shape of a woman that had just emerged from the flank of the ship. She reached the bottom of the ramp and then flicked open the outer screen over her visor. He knew the face instantly.

  "Teresa?"

  Spartan moved toward her, completely forgetting about the fight they were in the middle of. Even though the ship and its Jötnar had cleared an area, there were still Thegns about. One of them leapt out in front of him, its firearm pointing directly at his face. A hole appeared in its forehead, and blood sprayed over him as it slumped forward. Right behind it was Teresa, her carbine raised and pointed straight ahead.

  "Spartan, where the hell have you been?"

  She rushed to him and grabbed him hard, pulling the battered and exhausted Spartan to her. As they held on to each other, the Jötnar pulled back and formed a defensive curtain around the ship. More conventional marines came out with stretchers and helped carry the wounded back inside. A few of the machines attempted to climb over the sides of the pad, but with numbers now on the marines’ side, they were quickly shot down.

  "I've been waiting a long time for this," said Teresa, ignoring all that was happening around them.

  Marcus saw her and walked over to them both. He reached out to Teresa, and she spotted him at the very last moment. Without letting go of Spartan, she dropped her carbine so that it swung down on its sling, and flipped out her sidearm to point it directly at his face.

  "What are you doing here?"

  Spartan released his hold just a little so that he could see what was happening. At seeing Marcus, he placed his one good hand on her pistol and pushed it down gently.

  "He's okay. It's a long story."

  Z'Kanthu was back on his feet again and now looked even more battered and worn out than when they had found him. Four Jötnar waited in front, each with their guns trained on his head.

  "I can hear your people. They are being attacked inside the refinery."