by T. R. Harris
And then she heard Andy’s voice in her ear. “Timmons, if you’re clear, blow your tower. That should be enough to stop the transit. I’ll blow mine just to muck up the works even more.”
“Roger that, sir. I’m clear. Loreto is still on the tower. One of those aliens just entered the access door. He’s going back up to investigate.”
“Loreto, get out of there!” Adam ordered. “That alien bastard won’t be able to find all the charges. We can still detonate.”
“He sees me, Admiral,” the voice of Jacob Loreto was heard saying. “I’m taking a shot. Target down. I’m returning to the ladder. Shit! Four more just came out of the room. How’d we miss them, Chief?”
“Are you covered?”
“For now. They see me and are moving into position.”
“I’m going back up,” Timmons said.
“Negative, Timmons. There isn’t time. Loreto, can you neutralize the targets?”
“That’s a negative, sir. They’ve taken cover and are calling for back up. Timmons, watch your six.”
“I see ’em. They’re headed for the ladder.”
“Blow the tower, Chief!” Loreto cried out. “I’m a lost cause.”
“Admiral, your call.”
“Arieel, where are they?”
“I don’t know. They are out of range.”
“Blow the tower, Admiral. If not then I’m charging these bastards. I’ll take some with me before I’m taken down.”
“Dammit, Jake. I hate to do this.”
“It’s all right, Andy. It’s been an honor serving with you…with all of you. Now blow this thing so we can go home.”
“Timmons…it’s a go.”
Andy nearly wretched when he saw the angry mass of roiling fire explode from the access door of the distant tower. This was on one of the three legs of the mast, and they were hoping that by severing the leg, the entire tower would lose its structural integrity. If not, then hopefully the damage caused inside the leg would shut down the tower and disrupt the operation of the array.
The explosion did make any impression, yet it was slow to materialize. Over half of the leg was now severed by large, protruding and jagged pieces of metal, and secondary explosions could be seen and heard popping within the structure. Several of the glowing nodes began to wink out, climbing higher and higher up this leg of the tower.
“The humming’s growing weaker, Admiral,” Timmons reported. “Looks like this one is going offline.”
“Good job. Now get to cover over with Arieel. Owens is almost down. I’m setting off my charge in about thirty seconds.”
Adam had lost contact with Arieel. Long distance calls on the ATD were limited to hitching rides on existing CW comm links, of which there were none in the area. They were in space now and bolting toward an area of impossible wavy white light in the blackness of the space. The Klin portal consisted of only brief flashes of dimensional light, while the Sol-Kor could create a much larger portal and keep it open longer.
They were on the bridge of the alien mainship, shackled to a bulkhead with two guards watching over them. Even though he couldn’t communicate with Arieel on the planet, he could with Sherri and Riyad.
It’s now or never, he spoke in their minds.
They haven’t left us much choice. I believe I can break my chain to the wall. How about you?
Sherri and Adam look at Riyad and nodded. I can’t break mine, but the wrist cuff is too big, Sherri thought. Looks like I can slip out.
Do we go for the whole ship, or beat feet for the rear launch bay? Riyad asked.
I say we take command of the bridge, Adam replied. That way we can control all parts of the ship, too. My chain is separating, but that one bastard is staring at me funny. I think he suspects something.
Sure enough, one of the guards stood up from his seat and stepped closer to Adam. His weapon was nearly at Adam’s belly when the Sol-Kor leaned over his shoulder to view the restraints. That was when Adam moved.
He brought his now-freed hand from behind him and grasped the blunt barrel of the rifle. In a flash, he had it twisted around and pressed against the belly of the alien. The creature looked him in the eye, before reaching down and attempting to wrest the weapon from Adam’s grip. That’s when the rifle discharged. It was set on projectile setting, and the unknown caliber cartridge blew out the entire midsection of the alien, effectively cutting him in half.
Blood sprayed across the bridge, bathing the twelve crewmembers in the sticky, red liquid. Adam now had the weapon leveled at the second guard. The beast regarded him for the split second after his partner was eviscerated, before he lifted his own weapon with a savage look on his face. Adam didn’t give him a chance to get it more than an inch off his lap before his weapon sounded again.
By now everyone on the bridge was reacting to the chaos at the rear of the room. To the surprise of the Humans, it seemed every damn Sol-Kor was armed, even the pilot. Now free of their restraints, the trio dove for the deck, just as the bulkhead behind them was pitted by a couple of dozen red hot shells from the alien guns.
Riyad had grabbed the weapon from the dead second guard and was firing indiscriminately into the forward section of the bridge. He wasn’t hitting anyone, but he was causing them to keep their heads down. And then the left section of the forward viewport cracked, sending tinny-sounding splinters snaking across the glass. Alarms sounded and a heavy metal security barrier fell from the ceiling to secure the breach.
The door behind them suddenly swished open, as four more Sol-Kor entered headlong with weapons ready. From his position on the deck, Adam was unseen by these new arrivals, at least in the split second it took him to cut their legs out from under them with a spread of rifle fire.
“Out the door!” Adam ordered. “Go!”
Sherri was the first through, followed on her back by Adam. The pair collapsed to the deck just as the security door to the bridge snapped shut. They jumped to their feet and began pounding on the door. No one was in the corridor outside the bridge, so they checked door jams and other walls for the controls that would reopen the door. They couldn’t find any.
Riyad, can you see any controls on your side? Adam screamed through his ATD.
Negative; seems to be an automatic pressure door. Probably needs a computer override to open.
Adam stepped back, and when Sherri saw what he was about to do, she dove for the deck to her left. The bullets ricocheted off the heavy metal door without even leaving dents yet sending potentially dangerous shards of lead flying back toward Sherri and Adam.
“Hey, that’s not helping!” Sherri cried out loud. “Behind you!”
Adam fell forward, rolling on his left shoulder before righting himself on one knee and aiming the alien rifle down the corridor that had once been behind him.
Three more Sol-Kor were in front of him, having come to investigate the disturbance on the bridge. Their weapons were still in their holsters, at least initially. Seeing the two Humans, and having heard the deafening gunfire outside the bridge, they went for their weapons. Adam cut them down with two short bursts.
Riyad, can you take out the bridge crew on your own?
Doubtful. They’ve taken cover and as far as I can tell from a meter on the side of the rifle, I’m down to about a quarter load. Get out of here while you can. I can’t see through the viewport anymore, but the monitors are showing that we’re almost to that big white window in space.
Don’t be crazy, Riyad; we’re not leaving you, Sherri said. Just give us a minute to figure something out.
A minute is probably all I have. Now get out of here. I’ll hold them off for as long as I can.
Both Sherri and Adam were pale with shock. Could this really be happening? Were they about to run off and leave Riyad at the mercy of the aliens?
When two more Sol-Kor entered the atrium outside the bridge and stumbling upon the Humans and their three dead shipmates, Adam knew it was time to go. After he killed these last two, Sherri to
ok a handgun off one of them and reluctantly began to sprint after Adam down the central corridor.
They knew the way to the rear access bay, having arrived inside the ship that way.. It took them fourteen seconds and cost the lives of three more unsuspecting Sol-Kor.
All the while, Sherri was crying into her ATD. I’m so sorry, Riyad! We’ll find a way to get back to you. Maybe the portal will close and you’ll be brought back down to the planet again.
Stop your yapping, sweetheart. I can see some monitors form here and it looks like the portal is still working. If you aren’t off the ship in the next minute or so, it could be too late for all of us. This thing seems to be on autopilot, because the actual pilot is firing at me. We’re headed for the portal one way or another.
“C’mon, Sherri, into the escape pod.”
The small launch bay had a couple of shuttles, but it would take far too long to learn the controls just to get the damn things out the door. Escape pods could be gone in a matter of seconds. The problem with pods, however, was that they were barely maneuverable and they carried no weapons—at least Human pods didn’t. He had no reason to believe the Sol-Kor pods would be any different.
When the hatch was secure, Adam quickly scanned the controls. They weren’t that complicated; just a couple of toggle controls and one round, flat button at the center of the console. Adam slapped his hand down on the button.
The pair was thrown back in the huge, alien-size seats, as the scene through the small porthole changed dramatically. They were in space, and the weightlessness caused each of them to nearly vomit from the suddenly shift.
We’re free of the ship, in an escape pod.
I see that. An alarm just went off. One of the aliens is trying to get to the console where the alarm is sounding. I’m going to stop him.
Don’t waste your ammo, Adam said.
That changed his mind. Seems to be a standoff here. No one can get to their stations to warn others of your escape, and neither can they change course.
Let them change course, you idiot! That will keep you from entering the portal.
It will also give them a chance to target the escape pod.
What are you saying? Sherri’s voice was a trembling mess at this point.
Looks like I’m boldly going where no man has gone before.
Let them change course, Riyad, Adam ordered.
I can’t. The portal seems to be fluctuating now. Whatever Andy is doing on the surface, it seems to be having an effect. If we don’t go through now it may be too late.
But if you go through, and the array is destroyed, you’ll be trapped in the Sol-Kor universe.
I’m okay with that, Sherri. Besides, I’m really curious to see the woman who gave birth to a trillion babies. Talk about stretch marks! Seriously, I’ll try to stay alive long enough to find a way to take over the place. After all, they’ve never had a Human there before. Should be easy pickings…just like the old days.
We’ll come for you, Riyad…somehow, Adam said.
He heard Riyad give out a mental laugh. The funny thing, my friend, is I know you will. Somehow, someway, you will.
Then stay alive, you pirate.
I will do my best. Now something weird is taking place outside. Wow! You guys should see this—
Without having to say another word, Adam and Sherri sensed he was gone. The void left in the electronic conference call was evident. Riyad’s presence was gone, as gone as anyone had ever been before.
Adam placed his hand a short distance in front of him and reached out with a finger. “He’s right here, Sherri. This close. All we have to do is find a way to get there.”
“The portal just shut!” Arieel yelled into her throat comm. Far above her, all she could see was the darkness of space where once the shimmering white sheet had flown. “You did it!”
“Any word from Adam?” Andy replied.
Arieel took a moment to search her Gift. Nothing. “No contact, yet I do sense the presence of other Gifts—other devices. Remember, even though I cannot communicate with them, I can still trace the presence of the devices at long distance.”
“So they’re still on this side!”
“Yes they are!” Arieel was ecstatic—until she noticed a simplicity in the contacts. It was different from what she’d detected before. “Something is wrong, Admiral.”
“What?” Andy’s voice changed with that word. It was deeper, more articulated.
“From what I feel now—and what I felt before—I believe there to be only two devices.”
“Whose are they?”
“I do not know, yet the signal is gaining in the strength. They are approaching closer.”
“They’re not the only ones getting closer, Admiral,” Howey Timmons said. He had just arrived at Arieel’s hiding place. “It looks like the whole hive is on their way here.”
“George and I are just rounding that huge crane behind the hangar. Looks like we may have to abscond with some alien ground transportation if we want to cut out of here before dinner.”
“I’ll take a peek in the hangar, see what might be around.”
“Watch your back. We’ll be at your location in thirty seconds.”
Most of the Sol-Kor at the hangar had left after Vosmin took the prisoners away in his spaceship. And then when the explosions began rocking the base, most of those remaining had taken up arms and ran for the arrays.
As Master Chief Timmons made his way around the side of the huge building, he noticed Arieel was right on his tail. “You should go back, ma’am. The Admiral would have my hide if you got hurt.”
“I am quite proficient with firearms, even your loud, heavy projectile weapons. After the events a few years ago, I insisted I learn.”
“Then watch my back”
“That would limit my ability to view potential threats, Mr. Timmons.”
“I mean look behind us, not literally look at my back.”
“Oh. Forgive me. I am usually much better at interpreting Human slang expressions. I must be under some stress.”
“Ya think? All right, here we go.”
As luck would have it, one of the few remaining Sol-Kor was looking right at the very spot along the huge slide away door to hangar where Timmons did a quick look-see. The senior chief managed to drop the alert alien with a single shot to the chest, but it was too late. The alarm had already been raised, and with the site’s heightened security, communications were sent out to the central command in a millisecond.
“Follow me!” the Chief said as he took off across the wide open volume of the hangar, heading for a squat loading vehicle that looked like an airport baggage truck. Two shots rang out behind him, and he glanced back to see Arieel take out an alien before his two companions ducked for cover.
Timmons was much faster than Arieel, but he didn’t realize that until he had already reached the cart and jumped behind the steering column. She was still a good forty feet behind, and that was when the Chief realized the Formilian simply wasn’t built for running. Her ample assets were actually throwing her off balance with every stride. Mesmerized by her gangly gait, Timmons thought it miracle that she hadn’t fallen flat on her face by now.
He took a quick survey of the controls of the cart. No gas pedal, just a lever to his right and a steering bar in front of him. He couldn’t see any on/off switch, so he pressed the lever forward and the vehicle began to move.
Timmons gave it more throttle, and then whipped the cart around in Arieel’s direction. They met up two seconds later. “Climb in the back and stay down. There’s not much cover in this thing.”
Arieel hopped in the back, but rather than stay hidden, she placed the barrel of the M-91 on the side of the cab and began spraying anything that moved with hot rounds of lead. She emptied one magazine but had another out and inserted in nothing flat.
The cart actually had good speed, and the pair was out the entrance to the hangar five seconds after Timmons had activated the vehicle.
&n
bsp; “What’s your location, Admiral?”
“We’re on our bellies just outside the hangar! Some maniac is shooting at us with automatic fire. Any idea who that could be?”
Arieel heard the broadcast, too. “I apologize, Andy. I was caught up in the moment.”
“Get ready, sir; I’m not slowing down.”
As the cart raced closer, Tobias and Owens jumped to their feet and began running in the same direction as the cart. Even as fast as Human were on this planet, the cart was still a little faster. But it wasn’t too much of a chore for the two SEALs to jump into the back cab as the cart shot past.
They were headed for the grassy meadow at the end of the base. The Sol-Kor were becoming organized, and spotters on the arrays and in the tall central control tower had a clear view of the escaping commandos. All forces were being sent in their direction. Even if they reached the meadow before the aliens, it was a pretty good bet that the cart would bog down in the mushy soil. The aliens would swarm all over them.
The three people in the cab were dishing out a deadly barrage of automatic weapons fire, running through magazines—and aliens—like there was no tomorrow. It still wouldn’t be enough.
And then they recoiled from an ear-piercing squeal from overhead. Andy looked toward the source of the painful noise and saw one of the three support legs of the tower where he’d placed his explosives begin to twist noticeably. Already weakened by the explosion, the leg was feeling the brunt of unnatural forces from above, causing it to fold over on itself. The squealing continued, as the massive leg buckled inward, striking another of the legs with a deep, thundering bong. The sound rippled throughout the valley, returning to the source three seconds later.
A chain reaction began, and soon the entire middle array was vibrating in harmonic motion. And then it began to topple over, bending at the point of the explosion.
For a moment, Andy felt like cheering, at least right up to the point when he saw the gigantic spear begin to move in his direction.