E.D.F chronicles - The Krenaran massacre.

by Ian. J. Smethurst

  The aliens quickly checked the interior; there was no sign of the humans. One of them looked up and saw the hole that Michael had made in the roof.

  “Kunesh Gorald Desh!” One of the Krenarans shouted as the alien disconnected his weapon from his hand; and reached up, putting both huge hands through the makeshift escape hatch. He heaved his head through, however in the dark gloom of the lift shaft he could see nothing.

  The alien dropped back down inside the elevator with a thud.

  There was a flight of steel rungs that led up to the top of the elevator shaft. Michael and Vargev were perched on a narrow access hatch barely two rungs up from the elevator roof. The only light in the shaft came from a small white light affixed to the top of the shaft far above which cast their position into a deep shadow.

  Vargev pointed to four strange contraptions; two on each side of the elevator roof.

  “Do they look like brakes to you?”

  Michael risked a quick glance at the damaged roof and nodded an affirmative.

  An evil smile crossed Vargev’s lips. “Shall we give them something to remember us by?”

  Michael nodded again. Understanding what the major meant. He aimed his weapon; and let loose four shots, one at each brake. The elevator swung wildly; then finally the last shot sent it plummeting at a horrific speed straight to the bottom of the lift shaft; where it smashed into the floor. The force of the impact crushed the elevator and the occupants inside. Finally it exploded in a huge fireball that swept up the entire lift shaft; bathing it in a bright yellow-orange glow and rocked the entire ship.

  Michael and Vargev stood as far back on the narrow hatch as they could manage, as the fireball just about bypassed them and continued to rise up the shaft, finally dissipating on the ceiling.

  The two men started climbing the rungs up the dark, high lift shaft. Michael hoisted the heavy Krenaran weapon over his shoulder. The weight of the thing made his shoulder ache constantly as he climbed.

  The small white light at the top of the lift shaft suddenly changed colour into a red one bathing the shaft in a deep ruddy glow. A barely audible siren began to wail in the distance.

  “Looks like they’re on to us,” Vargev said.

  “They must have found the dead Krenarans.”

  They re-doubled their efforts to get to the top of the shaft; rung by rung they pressed on. By now Michael’s shoulder felt like it was on fire, but he knew he simply couldn’t stop; he just had to keep on going.

  Eventually they neared the top of the shaft. The entrance to the command centre was on the far side, how were they going to get from the rungs to the entrance?

  Vargev thought for a moment; it was risky, but there was a small overhang just below the entrance. He would have to jump for it; checking that his hand laser was safely stored and wasn’t going to fall out, the big Russian bent his legs; and with a huge effort leapt across the lift shaft. His hands managed to gain a slight purchase on the ledge. For a moment which almost seemed like an eternity he just dangled there; 40 meters above the fiery remains of the destroyed elevator desperately trying for more grip.

  Slowly and with a tremendous effort he managed to gingerly haul himself up onto the ledge. “You have to jump as well!” Vargev shouted over the noise of the wailing siren.

  “What If I don’t make it?”

  “What’s this, a Navy boy who’s afraid of heights?” Vargev tutted, “what would your Captain say.”

  “I’m not afraid. I was just pointing out a fact.”

  A door quickly slid open on the deck below where Vargev was standing; a Krenaran emerged, spotted Michael and quickly opened fire.

  The shot blew off one of the rungs just above Michaels’ head, one of his hands lost its grip, flailing, he dangled there one handed. The rung flew past his head with a whoosh as gravity took it; before it hit the remains of the elevator below with a loud clang.

  Michael was temporarily blinded by the shot, his pulse began to race; frantically he reached for the rung his other arm was clung to, barely managing to find it.

  “Jump!” Vargev shouted in desperation.

  Michael braced himself and leapt across the elevator shaft, just as a second shot blasted a hole into the wall where Michael had previously dangled. He almost didn’t make it across; at the last second Vargev reached out and grabbed his forearm, hauling him up onto the ledge.

  The Krenaran below fired again; blasting a large chunk out of the ledge they were standing on; rocking it and nearly throwing both men off.

  Quickly they walked to the doors that signified the entrance to the command centre; they didn’t open.

  “Must have sealed off the bridge,” Vargev said.

  “Move out the way,” Michael sighed as his sight slowly returned.

  Levelling the Krenaran weapon he fired three quick blasts straight at the door; the first two buckled it, the third shot blasted a hole big enough to step through.

  Vargev retrieved his laser and sprinted headlong towards the opening; he dove through it and executed a neat forward roll upon landing; coming up firing. One of the Krenarans turned in his elaborate white seat to face him and was greeted by two laser shots dead in the chest, the alien collapsed back down onto the seat and then fell limp; face first onto the floor. A split second later Vargev had trained his improvised weapon on a second Krenaran; the alien fell forward with two laser shots in the back, its body smashed into the console he was using sending a shower of sparks and glass across the command centre.

  “I’m out!”

  Michael burst into the room, and hefting his weapon he quickly blew a hole in the midsection of a third Krenaran preparing to rush Vargev.

  The huge form of Axus came barrelling towards them; with a deep roar he shouted, “I will gut you Terran!”

  He shoulder barged Michael; smashing him to the floor. Pain lanced across Michael’s back as he slammed hard onto the deck; his weapon clattered along the floor to the side of him.

  The massive Krenaran commander smashed a chair out of the way and sprinted full pelt towards Vargev. The Russian desperately tried to dodge the onrushing behemoth; however Axus was simply too fast.

  Vargev swung a right hook managing to connect; the Krenaran wasn’t even fazed by the puny blow. The monstrous alien simply unleashed a guttural roar and gripped the Majors throat; with a show of supreme strength he lifted Vargev clean into the air, holding him there, the aliens’ massive vice like grip clamped around the Russians throat.

  Vargev coughed and spluttered; twisting this way and that looking like a tiny worm in the grip of a monster; desperately trying to break free from the huge aliens’ deadly grip; however Axus was simply too strong. The alien brought his other fist back; lining up a blow that if it hit, would surely snap Vargev’s neck. The desperate Russian was weakening rapidly as he struggled.

  “I was under orders not to harm you, but I’m going to enjoy this!” Axus said mockingly.

  On the far side of the command centre, Michael gradually came to. Slowly shaking his head, his vision cleared slightly; enough to see the Major locked in the huge Krenarans’ deadly grip.

  Quickly picking up his weapon as he got back to his feet; he opened fire. The shot fizzed across the command centre and blasted off Axus’s arm, the force of the impact spinning the giant Krenaran warrior completely around and forcing him to drop Vargev. The aliens white blood spurted out from the damaged limb; as the Russian flopped onto the floor unconscious.

  Axus screamed in pain and raw anger, the Krenaran rose and charged headlong towards Michael; who was still a little unsteady on his feet.

  He desperately tried to bring his weapon up again; however it was too late, the one armed monstrosity simply swatted him away; sending Michael careering through the air and smashing into another console. The force of the impact smashed the glass on the screen; however Michael just about managed to keep hold of his weapon.

  Weak; and with his back in agony from the impacts of the floor and the glass, he
looked up to see the onrushing form of Axus racing towards him like a charging bull.

  With all the strength he could muster he levelled the weapon and pressed the trigger; keeping it pressed, two, three, four shots slammed into Axus; on the fourth shot the mighty Krenaran staggered, his white lifeblood spraying out all over the damaged console and spluttered across Michaels’ face.

  Finally the giant Krenaran fell backwards onto the floor with a wet thud; and moved no more.

  Chapter 8 Rise of the Liberty

  Gradually Vargev regained consciousness, and groggily got back to his feet. Michael was still lying atop the smashed console; barely conscious himself.

  Vargev strode over to him seeing the bloodied lifeless form of Axus lying face up on the deck, and helped him back up onto his feet. In his usual Russian twang he said, “Now you have gained my respect comrade; you should be proud. It is not easy to gain the respect of a commando; harder still for a Major of them.”

  Michael stood up groggily and tried to straighten himself with an agonising ‘click’. He looked down at the ruined body of Axus, “filthy Krenaran bastard.”

  He turned his attention to the bridge; it was a long oval shaped room with several status consoles and chairs lining the perimeter. It was completely empty now, only Michael and Vargev still stood. Krenaran bodies were strewn across the floor; thick white blood stained the deck plates, and coated some of the smashed consoles.

  “Think you can fly this thing, Navy boy?”

  “I don’t know, I’ve never piloted an alien ship before.”

  “Well; now’s your chance.”

  “We need to secure the rest of the ship, see if you can find an environmental systems console around here.”

  “Why environmental systems?”

  “Listen, you may be in charge on the ground, but I am up here; besides I have a plan.”

  Vargev sighed; and began looking for a console resembling something like an environmental systems monitor. Finally he came to a console in a far corner of the command centre. “Is this it?” he asked; pressing a button with a strange symbol imprinted upon it. Suddenly the command centre was plunged into darkness; only the console lights showed up, casting an eerie glow across the darkened bridge.

  “You idiot, you’ve shut off main power!”

  “Oops sorry,” he pressed the button again.

  The lights quickly came back on, Michael walked over to where Vargev was stood. A loud banging noise could be heard from a second door over at the other side of the command centre.

  “They are trying to break through!” An increasingly desperate Vargev shouted.

  Michael studied the console in front of him, and found that on the display there were pictures of a deck plan. The banging sound continued to increase, and small dents could now be seen through the door. He studied the console some more. There were strange symbols next to each deck; one looked like the detention area.

  The hammering on the door increased in its intensity; as more dents began to appear.

  Michael pressed the corresponding symbol for each deck, except the command centre and detention facility. As he pressed each symbol one by one; the decks faded to a mid-grey colour. All except the command centre itself which glowed bright blue; and the detention area which glowed a bright red colour.

  He left it like that for several minutes while he walked over to the elaborate looking chair, studying it closely. There was a small console in the middle of this chair; Michael had no idea why the chair was more elaborate than the others dotted around the command centre, but he was determined to find out.

  The banging noises were slowly lessening in their intensity; fewer dents were appearing in the door, which by now was looking decidedly battered.

  Vargev walked over to him, “what do you think it is?”

  “I’ve no idea,” Michael replied looking puzzled, “only one way to find out.” He lowered himself down into the chair, its white leather felt soft and padded.

  “It is comfortable though.”

  Vargev shot him a look, “I don’t think it’s a sofa, comrade.”

  Suddenly two metallic arms on the chair moved up from its sides almost silently and with mechanical precision, they clicked into place. The small console moved forward into position between his legs; and stopped within easy reach. At the ends of these two arms there were hand holes; and through these holes were grips containing a variety of red buttons. More strange symbols were imprinted upon them.

  The banging on the door gradually ceased.

  Michael put his hands gingerly inside the holes.

  “Are you sure you should be doing that. What if it’s some kind of torture device?” Vargev asked, eyeing the chair suspiciously.

  The holes were a little big, but not too much of a problem, usually designed for Krenaran arms and hands; Michael thought.

  The arms of the chair began to take on the movements of his own arms, augmenting his movements with the mechanics contained within the chair itself. Michael lowered his right arm; and the chair arm did the same. Simultaneously the entire ship quickly pitched to port; throwing Vargev completely off balance, and landing with a thud on the deck plating.

  “It’s a pilot’s chair!” Michael said elated.

  “Good, now that you’ve thrown me on my ass.”

  “Sorry about that. The controls take a bit of getting used to; the console display must be for speed, distance and heading.”

  Vargev got to his feet; and brushed himself off, “what do you think the buttons on the grips are for?”

  “Probably weapons controls, and thrusters.”

  Michael returned his arms to level and took them out of the hand holes. The chair arms gradually returned to their original positions.

  “This is supremely advanced; we don’t have anything like it in the E.D.F.”

  He got out of the chair and walked with Vargev over to the environmental console. Reversing what he did previously; all the decks on the deck plan gradually lit up in their respective colours again; some red, some green, and some blue.

  “What did you do?”

  “I simply shut off the air supply to all decks except the command centre and detention area. The ship is now ours,” Michael replied smiling.

  Vargev smiled back, “You suffocated them? I like it. What are we going to call our new ship anyway?”

  Michael thought for a moment. “I haven’t thought about it much really; tell you what, we’ll call it the Liberty.”

  “Why the Liberty?”

  “Because I like the statue of liberty; and besides it sounds good,” Michael replied smiling.

  “The E.D.F could do with a bit of luck at the moment; the Liberty it is then.”

  “We have to get back down to the detention facility.”

  Together they studied the deck plan on the monitor.

  “If we go through that door the Krenarans were banging on, and head down the corridor; we should come to a second elevator. We can get to the detention facility from there,” Michael said, tracing his finger along the plan.

  “Then let’s go then.”

  They walked towards the battered doors; and with a heave. The two men managed to force a way through. The doors creaked with the groan of twisted metal. Four Krenarans lay dead on the floor on the other side; as Michael and Vargev stepped through, they could see another five lay further down the corridor. All of them suffocated; pushing their way past the bodies they eventually reached the end of the corridor and entered the elevator.

  It said, “Gorush’te.”

  “Shit, not this again.”

  They walked back out of the elevator; across the command centre, and climbed down the elevator shaft again; it was easier going this time. Shortly thereafter they had made it back to the detention area.

  Kerulithar said, “I am glad you remembered about us.”

  Michael glanced over the small console where the Krenarans once stood, he saw a symbol that looked like a sheet of glass and pressed it.<
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  All the Electrical fields in the detention centre shut down at once. The various species of aliens held captive all piled out of their cells. Michael and Nikolai were stood in front of them. “Can we have your attention please!” Michael shouted.

  The aliens continued to mill about amongst themselves.

  “It is no good, they can’t understand you,” Kerulithar said as he walked towards the two of them. “There are twenty or so different species here. Let me try; it’s always best when speaking to many different species like this to speak galactic common.”

  Kerulithar turned towards the rabble and shouted, “Galtray! Galtray!”

  The crowd stopped and quietened noticeably.

  “What did you say to them,” Michael asked.

  “Attention.”

  “Tell them we have captured the ship; all the Krenarans are dead. But we need a crew for the time being.”

  “Alvash kal untra krenar udlish, kormei alvat assak, dadloo antima galutha.”

  “What was that again?”

  “The rough translation is; Krenarans all dead; ship is captured; crew needed.”

  “What was your name again?” Vargev asked.

  “Kerulithar.”

  “Remind me to take language lessons from you,” Vargev replied smiling.

  A Large green spider like alien stepped forward; it had a huge bulbous body, and was stood on two legs, yet it had six. And two bright yellow eyes. It looked rather intimidating; both Michael and Vargev backed off slightly, as it loomed over them.

  “Kallash a ganrush kaneil,” it said.

  “Wha…What did that thing say?” Michael said to Kerulithar.

  “He’s a Faccadian, they are a rare species in the galaxy now. Their world was destroyed by tectonic pressure several centuries ago.”

  “But what did he say?”

  “He says he is one of the best engineers of his species.”

  “Gannat kamadi kellen Facad,” the spidery alien said.

  “He also says that there are not many left of his species.”