by Brian Fisher
Chapter 19
Near the edge of the Olcai debris field, a small black satellite hung motionless in space. The remnants of a once proud planet danced around it, helping it fade into space like a speck of dust floating in a dark room. It had been waiting for its signal to come, its chance to do its duty so that it could return to the Gods. Finally, the signal did arrive and the blessed moment would come soon, the moment when it would die, but only after it had transmitted whatever information had been sent its way. The data package had been small, almost insignificant, but that did not matter. The small satellite had done its job, and soon its masters would release it to be with the Gods. That was simply the way of things, and it desperately wanted that blessed release.
Time nearly stood still in Olcai space. Redemption stood as a solitary sentry orbiting the artificial planet. Space extended from that point, to all directions with nothing in the way, except for the debris field. Outside the debris field, several large flashes of light burst from the depths of space, leaving an armada of Ta'Reeth war ships. Moments after the ships arrived, a tiny explosion of bone and flesh signaled the end of the small satellite.
Specks of darkness flashed around the mammoth ships. Gnarled and twisted arms curled out of the hulls of the ships, wrapping around each other and the hulls. Fighters tore away from the hulls then launched into space. A perimeter of fighters swarmed each ship, and then the armada, as the invaders set course for Olcai.
Larger craft broke away from the hulls of the mammoth ships, and sped toward the planet. Great spiraling clouds of blood flowed away from the ships as the landing craft broke free. A thin skin quickly covered the wound as the ships started to grow more landing craft in the place of the old ones. As fighters sped into space, more were grown to replace the old ones. The smaller ships grew quickly, and the process repeated itself until the space surrounding the Ta'Reeth armada was filled with fighters, and the sky over Olcai was covered in landing craft.
Contrails filled the sky over Olcai. Heavy weapons platforms erupted with barrages of laser cannon fire, exploding the ships that they came in contact with. Ta'Reeth gunners responded with plasma cannons belching fire, and decimating the planetary defenses. The landers broke through the planetary defenses, and streaked toward the floating cities below. Each lander carried two dozen soldiers, intent on nothing more than carrying out their Master’s orders.
"Red alert! All crewmembers man your battle stations!" the Captain's voice thundered over the intercom. "This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill." Redemption's crew scrambled through the ship, dodging each other with practiced grace. As the crew ran to their stations, reinforced bulkheads dropped into place, compartmentalizing and sealing each section.
Captain McWilliams stepped out of his ready room, and onto the bridge. He strode over to the Captain's chair, and sat down. "Status report." he said as a compartment opened in the side of his chair. Silently, a helmet with an onyx black visor lifted to his side.
"Captain, we are not combat ready." Angel told her Captain as she appeared at his side. Her jumpsuit had been replaced with formfitting, gray and black urban camouflage.
"Angel, keep the repairs going, but we have problems." Captain McWilliams placed the helmet on his head.
The bridge hummed with activity as the crewmembers powered up their stations, and readied for battle.
"Major Narja, our plans have been changed a little." Captain McWilliams spoke into his com unit. "We need to gain cooperation from the planetary defenses. Without them, we're dead in space."
"Understood Sir." the reply came quickly through the com. Both the Major and the Captain knew that they would most likely never see each other alive again.
"Major, you may launch when ready." Jason checked over his ship's status reports, not at all liking what he saw. His weapons, shields, and engines were in no condition for a fight of this magnitude. They would be lucky to live through this.
"Captain, we are beginning the launch sequence now." Major Narja's voice came through the intercom.
"Angel, launch all fighters. I want them to form a perimeter around the ship." the Captain ordered.
Redemption responded to the threat as well as she could. Fighters streamed out of the hanger bays, followed by the blunt, boxy landing crafts. The fighters formed a defensive perimeter, as the Marines headed for the planet. The space around Redemption came alive with ships crisscrossing within the perimeter, anticipating an attack.
Ovoid in shape, and flat on top and bottom, like a flattened teardrop, the fighters were excellent in space as well as in the atmosphere. Veteran pilots manned the sleek fighters. The shields, weapons and engines melded together with the pilots through the Cognizance Helmets, linking pilot to ship at the speed of thought. Manual controls provided a reliable backup, but were hardly used.