by Ryk Brown
“But the Avendahl…” Casimir began.
“There are other ways to win a war, besides standing toe-to-toe and slugging it out.”
“Unusual words from a Ghatazhak,” Casimir said.
“These are unusual times,” the commander replied.
“The roof is covered with machinery and communications gear,” Casimir warned. “There is no place for a shuttle to land…”
“They do not need to land,” the commander insisted, “they only need to hover low enough for you to get on board.”
“Transition complete,” the jump master announced.
“Contact,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported. “The Juda. She’s launching another wave of assault ships. Troop shuttles, gunships, and fighter escorts. Thirty-six ships in total.”
“Helm, make course directly for the Juda,” Captain Navarro ordered.
“Aye, sir.”
“The Juda is targeting us again,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported. “She’s locking guns and missiles.”
“Return the favor, Mister Rogal,” the captain ordered.
“Targeting all guns and missiles on the Juda,” the lieutenant acknowledged.
“The Juda is firing,” Lieutenant Cahnis warned.
“Main guns are locked on the Juda,” the weapons officer announced.
“Fire at will.”
“Firing mains,” the lieutenant replied.
“Missile launch,” Lieutenant Cahnis announced. “Eight inbound missiles. Forty seconds to impact.”
“All missile batteries,” the captain ordered. “Let us end this quickly.”
“Locking all missile batteries on the Juda.”
“Incoming message from Commander Erbe,” the communications officer interrupted. “He’s asking for more combat jumpers and fighters to provide cover during extraction.”
“Flight?” the captain called.
“I can vector six fighters and two more combat jumpers,” Lieutenant Commander Getty replied. “ETA; two minutes.”
“Do it,” the captain replied.
“Aye, sir.”
“I have missile locks on the Juda, Captain,” Lieutenant Rogal reported. “All batteries.”
“Full yields, all batteries, wide dispersal pattern,” Captain Navarro instructed. “Launch when ready.”
“Full yields, wide dispersal, all batteries… Launching missiles.”
“Reload same and launch a second wave on my mark,” Captain Navarro ordered. “Batteries two and four, high arc. Batteries one and three, same arc, but either side of target. Batteries five and six delayed, straight on. Prep and hold.”
“All incoming missiles have been intercepted,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported. “Juda is launching a second wave. She’s turning toward us.”
“She’s giving us a smaller targeting profile,” Commander Golan commented, “trying to make herself harder to hit. She’ll put all her power into her forward shields to try and compensate for our increased firepower.”
“But she’ll also be reducing the number of guns she can put on us,” Captain Navarro pointed out, “which is a grave error on her captain’s part.” The captain turned toward his weapons officer. “Fire next wave of missiles, Lieutenant.”
“Firing missile batteries one through four,” the weapons officer replied.
“Reload one through four with same.”
“Juda has destroyed the first wave of missiles,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported.
“Firing missile batteries five and six,” Lieutenant Rogal announced. “Reload them as well, sir?”
“Indeed,” the captain replied. “Helm, kill the mains, turn us to port and show the Juda our starboard side. Divert all shield power to the starboard shields. Put all our starboard guns on her and fire.”
“Six of our missiles have gotten through the Juda’s point-defenses!” Lieutenant Cahnis exclaimed. “Direct impacts with her shields. Her forward shields are down to eighty percent!”
“Another round of missiles, Mister Rogal.”
“Firing next wave. Firing all starboard guns,” the lieutenant replied.
“Jump event! New contact!” Lieutenant Cahnis announced. “The Astaire! Position one seven four by two four two. Range; two thousand kilometers!”
“Two thousand?” Commander Golan wondered.
“Their jump drive is untested,” Captain Navarro replied, “Yoo is unwilling to jump in close.”
“The Astaire is locking onto us with missiles,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported.
“Jump master, prepare an escape jump,” the captain ordered. “Ten-kilometer micro-jump, if you please. Wait for my order.”
“Micro-jump of ten kilometers,” the jump master replied. “We’ll be ready, sir.”
“Three more of our missiles have made it past the Juda’s point-defenses.”
“Another round, Lieutenant. This time, lessen the arc on batteries one through four, so that they come in between the previous launch tracks.”
“Aye, sir.”
“You’re leaving her nowhere to FTL safely,” Commander Golan realized.
“The Astaire is launching missiles,” Lieutenant Cahnis announced. “Time to impact, two minutes. The Juda just took three more hits. Her forward shields are down to forty percent!”
“Targeting the Astaire’s missiles with our point-defenses,” Lieutenant Rogal reported.
“Negative,” Captain Navarro replied. “Do not target the Astaire’s missiles.”
“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant replied. “Captain, I must remind you that our port shields are currently down.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Lieutenant,” Captain Navarro replied.
Commander Golan looked at the captain, a smile creeping onto his face. “Instruction indeed.”
“A crossfire is a double-edged sword,” Captain Navarro replied.
“Starboard shields down to eighty percent.”
“Surely, Yoo is not that short-sighted,” the commander insisted.
“Some captains see the jump drive as merely a way to get from point A to point B more quickly,” Captain Navarro explained. “They fail to realize that it is as potent a weapon as any plasma cannon or nuclear warhead, when used properly.”
“The Astaire’s weapons officer will simply detonate the missiles after we jump,” the commander insisted.
“I’m counting on it,” the captain replied. “Is the Juda still closing on us, Lieutenant?”
“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant warned. “Fifteen kilometers and closing. One minute until the Astaire’s missiles reach us,” Lieutenant Cahnis warned. “The Astaire is launching another round of missiles.”
“Starboard shields down to seventy percent!”
“Shall I launch another wave of missiles?” Lieutenant Rogal inquired.
“Negative,” Captain Navarro replied. “Shut down the missile batteries, but leave them deployed.”
“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant replied.
“Feigning a power failure?” Commander Golan asked. “Any first-year cadet would spot that move, Captain.”
“Probably, but it does give them one more thing to think about.”
“Thirty seconds to missile impact,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported. “Juda’s forward shields are down to twenty percent. She’s currently boxed in and cannot jump.”
“Weapons, bring two of our main guns onto the Astaire and fire when ready,” Captain Navarro ordered.
“Retargeting fore and aft gun batteries on the Astaire,” Lieutenant Rogal reported.
“Starboard shields down to fifty percent and falling,” the systems officer warned.
“Range to Juda?” the captain asked again.
“Seven kilometers,” Lieutenant Cahnis replied. “Twenty seconds to missile impact.”
“Stand by on that escape jump,” Captain Navarro reminded.
“Escape jump standing by.”
“Juda’s forward shields down to ten percent!”
“Ten seconds to impact!”
“All our missiles inbou
nd for the Juda have been destroyed,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported.
“Five seconds to impact!”
“Range to Juda?” Captain Navarro inquired.
“Three kilometers, sir!” the lieutenant replied, trying unsuccessfully to hide his concerns.
“Escape jump,” the captain ordered, “…now.”
“Jumping,” the jump control officer replied.
“Weapons, power up missile launchers and target the Juda’s new position based on our new position,” Captain Navarro ordered. “Bring all guns onto her as well. Fire when ready.”
“Transition complete!” the jump control officer reported.
“Powering up the missile launchers!”
“Multiple detonations!” Lieutenant Cahnis exclaimed. “The Astaire is detonating her missiles mid-flight to avoid striking the Juda!”
“Main guns retargeted, firing!” the weapons officer reported.
“Captain!” Lieutenant Cahnis interrupted. “The radiation from the close-in detonations… I think they’re blinding the Juda’s sensors!”
“Blinding our targeting sensors as well,” Commander Golan commented under his breath.
“Yes, but we know how far we moved,” the captain said. “They do not.”
“Missile batteries locked on the Juda’s estimated position, based on last known course and speed,” Lieutenant Rogal announced. “Ready to fire!”
“Fire all missiles,” Captain Navarro ordered.
“Firing all missiles!” Lieutenant Rogal acknowledged.
“They won’t even see them coming,” Commander Golan realized.
“Neither will their point-defenses,” Captain Navarro replied.
“Five seconds to impact!” Lieutenant Cahnis exclaimed.
“Targeting cameras, my screen,” the captain ordered.
The image on the center view screen in the overhead display array switched, revealing a half dozen fading flashes of white light from the detonation of the Astaire’s failed missiles. As they faded away, they were replaced by more than two dozen flashes of light of equal brilliance, followed by the yellow and orange flashes of secondary explosions within the Juda’s hull.
“Target destroyed!” Lieutenant Cahnis reported with excitement.
“Helm, twenty to port, and four up relative. Prepare a new jump, one light minute.”
“Twenty to port and four up, aye.”
“Preparing a jump of one light minute.”
“Communications, transmit message to extrication shuttles. Rendezvous will be at point seven one five.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Weapons, prepare another round of missiles,” Captain Navarro added, “in case Captain Yoo wishes to continue this dance.”
Two Ghatazhak soldiers burst through the service door out onto the roof of House Ta’Akar. Within seconds, incoming fire from three different positions higher than the rooftop came raining down upon them, killing one of the soldiers in the first volley.
“Snipers!” the second soldier warned as he ducked for cover behind one of the many pieces of machinery on the roof.
Commander Erbe stood just inside the doorway, safe from sniper fire, as two more of his men ran out across the roof to take up firing positions. “Erbe to any combat jumper! We’ve got snipers to the east, west, and north of the main building! Request assistance!”
“Erbe, Jumper One Three. On you in twenty seconds. Can you direct fire to the targets to help us find them?”
“Jumper One Three, Erbe. Affirmative. Follow our fire from the rooftop to the targets.”
“Erbe, Jumper One Three, copy.”
“Put fire on those snipers and don’t stop!” Commander Erbe yelled to his troops out on the rooftop.
All three Ghatazhak soldiers began to open up on the distant buildings where the snipers were positioned, creating bright red lines of energy weapons fire for Jumper One Three to follow.
“Erbe, One Three, targets in sight,” the pilot reported.
“Erbe, Jumper Two Eight, one minute out.”
“Copy, Two Eight. Roof is hot,” the commander replied.
“Two Eight copies, pickup is hot.”
Commander Erbe turned to look at Casimir, Deliza, and Yanni. “Our jumper will be here in one minute!” he yelled above the sound of weapons fire. “We will need to move quickly once he arrives! The longer he is in a hover, the more time the Ybarans have to take him out!”
Jumper One Three streaked overhead, barely missing the various communications antennas on the roof of House Ta’Akar. The shuttle made a circle to the left, its weapons turrets firing at the same targets as the Ghatazhak soldiers on the roof. The shuttles, however, had far more firepower, which they used to tear the buildings apart, no doubt killing any Ybaran sniper who might have been positioned there.
A flash of blue-white light appeared just overhead, and another jump shuttle appeared. Jumper One Three pivoted to the right as they continued to fire, taking out the last sniper position.
“Erbe, Two Eight, overhead. Take out those antennas so we can get lower!”
Commander Erbe raised his rifle and fired at the base of three of the largest antennas nearby, causing them to collapse onto the roof. “Two Eight, you’re clear to descend. Advise caution! The roof is not rated for your weight!”
“Copy. Two Eight will maintain a hover. Watch our jet wash. Approach from midship, starboard side!”
“Understood!” Commander Erbe replied as he watched the jump shuttle descend from above. He peeked out of the doorway, looking to his left at the burning holes in the side of the distant building where an Ybaran sniper had once been. House Ta’Akar was located in a more suburban area of Answari. Had they been in the family’s downtown compound at the time of the attack, there would have been far more positions available for enemy snipers. As it was, there were only three of them within reasonable range. “Keep an eye on those buildings!” he instructed his men over his helmet comms. “All ground units, max fire, now!”
All around the Ta’Akar compound, Ghatazhak soldiers increased their fire rate, spraying every known enemy position with as much firepower as possible in the hope of keeping the enemy at bay long enough for Jumper Two Eight to complete the extrication.
The jump shuttle descended even lower, their underside only half a meter above the rooftop.
Commander Erbe signaled the two men behind him, who immediately moved past him and out onto the roof. The commander turned to Casimir. “You run straight out and jump in!”
“Deliza and Yanni go first!” Casimir insisted.
“Two Eight, in position!” the pilot reported.
“Sir! We do not…”
“They go first!” Casimir repeated. He turned and grabbed Deliza. “Go! Run to the shuttle and jump in! Do not look back!”
“What about you?” Deliza wondered.
Casimir could see the fear in his daughter’s eyes. “I will be right behind you, I promise.” He looked at Yanni, then back at Deliza. “Go!”
“Coming out!” Commander Erbe called over his helmet comms.
The Ghatazhak on the roof increased their rate of fire, alternating between the different distant buildings where snipers could still be positioned.
Deliza ran out across the roof, dodging between the environmental machinery. When she reached the hovering jump shuttle, two men inside reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her up into the ship.
Commander Erbe turned to Casimir.
“Yanni is next,” Casimir ordered, leaving the commander with no room to argue. Casimir turned to Yanni. “Go! Quickly!”
Yanni dashed out through the doorway, nearly stumbling as he stepped out onto the roof. Two shots from the building to the east slammed into the roof just behind him as he ran toward the hovering shuttle, tearing up the roof and sending debris flying.
The Ghatazhak soldiers on the roof stood up from behind their cover and focused their fire on the building to the east, showering its sides with energy bolts.
<
br /> Yanni jumped up toward the hovering jump shuttle and was caught by the crewman in the open hatchway, who pulled him inside.
“Fast movers to the west!” the copilot of the jump shuttle called over the comms. “We gotta go! We gotta go!”
“Highball Five Two, moving to intercept,” another pilot called. “ETA, thirty seconds.”
“Everyone on board, now!” the copilot urged.
“Go!” Commander Erbe ordered Casimir. “Everyone on the roof, to the shuttle, now!”
Casimir ran past the commander out onto the rooftop as the four Ghatazhak soldiers began to walk backward toward him and the hovering jump shuttle.
Commander Erbe came out of the doorway behind Casimir, just as a blue-white flash of light appeared directly overhead.
A thunderous sound and a wave of air knocked Casimir to his belly. The shock wave scrambled his senses for a moment, making his ears hurt and his eyes water.
“They’re right on top of us!” the copilot exclaimed over the comms. “Roll to port and climb!”
The jump shuttle’s engine went to full power as it rolled slightly left and began to climb.
“Wait!” Deliza screamed from the back of the shuttle.
Commander Erbe dropped on top of Casimir, shielding him from the thrust wash of the climbing shuttle with his body, as his men swung their weapons upward and opened fire on the enemy jump shuttle that had just jumped in above them.
Four men fell from the hovering jump ship onto the roof, opening fire as they landed. The nearest Ghatazhak soldier was the first to fall, taking energy blasts in the chest and head. The other three began firing at the four Ybarans as four more fell to the roof behind them.
Commander Erbe rolled off of Casimir and opened fire on the second four Ybarans, cutting them down with ease. “Back inside!” he yelled at Casimir, as two of the Ybarans charged toward them.
Casimir scrambled to his feet, but did not heed the commander’s recommendations. Instead, he pulled the commander’s sidearm from his thigh holster, and in a fluid motion activated its power cell, deactivated its safety, and opened fire on the charging men. Three shots leapt from his weapon, the first two striking the nearest Ybaran in the chest and knocking him over, the third one finding the other man’s face shield. Neither Ybaran was mortally wounded, rather the first one was scrambling to get back to his feet, and the second trying to regain his senses.