by Gary Weston
Bob Graham was still on duty on radar and he had the attackers in his sights.
'Ten enemy ships coming in due south, repeat. Ten enemy, coming from the south.'
Now five cannon were swivelled around aiming south, waiting for the tell-tail blue exhaust of the ships and their beams of death. And there the enemy were, on the horizon. They had to hold their fire until the last possible seconds, because the lasers would guide them to an easy target, lit up and exposed. Here they come.
Chapter 80
Dillow said, 'Get north of the Bases.'
Breeze said, 'Sir? North?'
'Breezy. We can't catch them in time and we can't fight them over the Bases, because of the damage we'd cause, but we can hit what the ground cannons miss as they pass over the Bases. Might give us an edge.'
'We need a bloody big edge, Sir.'
'Just drive the bus, Breezy. There. Go around Mons. That will shield us.'
Breeze led the formation around Mons, flying low, using the huge crater lip to shield them as they rounded the biggest mountain in the solar system. Already the lasers were firing, streaking blue from the ground cannon, red from the Verlindran ships as they blasted a swathe of devastation through the Bases. Those in freighters couldn't hear the screams of the people in and around the Bases as the lasers sliced through them.
Eleven ground shooters were either dead or dying. One, a man, was dragging his body along the concrete by his fingernails, leaving his legs behind, to get to the laser, ready to fight to his last breath. He pulled himself up, his mind gone with pain, eyes almost blinded by the flash, and with his bloody stumps to help swing the cannon around, he saw the blurry sight of the enemy's red lasers, and as his blood dripped from him, he pulled the trigger, just for one second, but it was enough. The ship came down.
Chapter 81
None of the ground shooters survived. But between them, they'd brought down four Varlindran ships. Crashing down just north of the Bases. The surviving six ships were already turning for another strike, but from the east came eight ships flown by very angry humans.
Captain Flare was the first to strike oil. The pinpoint accuracy of her shooting bore a neat hole right through the ship, and it crashed harmlessly into the lush green of Mars. Max Morgan clipped one, seconds before his own freighter was dealt a lethal blow.
'Going down, Aasa.'
'We ain't down yet. Spin us around.'
'Too late.'
'Hit the gas and spin us round, damn it.'
Morgan hit the gas. 'Damn woman.' At that low speed, spinning the ship was impossible, but around it went, four seconds before the rear end smashed into the ground, but in that four seconds, Aasa blew up another ship.
'Now you can crash.'
They braced for impact, hoping things wouldn't explode, and with a nerve grating grinding noise, the old freighter died, reduced to scrap.
Lance Dillow said, 'Morgan? You still alive?'
'Yes, Sir. Aasa and I are uninjured.'
'Good work, you two. Stay put.'
Three Varlindran ships, one damaged, flew toward the Bases, intent on destroying anyone and anything in their paths, thinking they had eliminated the ground fire, blasted at will, to be unexpectedly hammered by a single laser cannon.
Andrew Foreman was dying anyway. 'Might as well go out with a bang, Foreman you old devil. A quick end to the pain, hey?'
Andrew Foreman, had the pleasure of destroying two ships, before the laser hit him. A fit young man may have survived, but an older man like Foreman, with a body riddled with cancer, had nothing more to give. He slid down against the laser. 'That felt good.' He closed his eyes and let his life slip away. But before he gasped his last breath, something soft and furry stroked his face. He opened his eyes and stared into the face of Mango.
'Oooh, Andy,' he cooed, softly.
'Mango. Andy loves Mango. Years ago, your grandfather saved me. Here on Mars. Take you family, Mango. Go hide in the trees. Keep them safe. Go Mango.'
'Go Mango. Oooh. Love Andy.'
Mango scurried way into the shadows of the night, and Andrew Foreman died.
Chapter 82
Stella and Fawn used their extra speed and agility, chasing the last Varlindran ship. They flew over the wreckage of the Bases, where in the tangled remains, people twitched with the spasms of death, their lives ebbing away. Vulnerable with a pack of freighters after it, the lone vessel headed for the blackness.
'No you don't,' said Dillow. You're mine.'
They were two matching ships, and it came down to the pilot. Stella Wayward had a bucketful of guts and a hatred of the enemy on her side.
'You get one shot at this, Dillow.'
'UP! NOW!'
Stella took the ship high; Dillow let rip with the cannon. The fleeing ship took a direct hit in the thrusters and it became a ball of flames with debris scattering in every direction. The fire was out instantly in the vacuum of space.
Dillow said, 'Have a nice day and tell all your friends, they can have the same.'
Her father's voice boomed over the radio. 'Nice shooting. But we got some new friends who might need a hand.'
Seven, now. They left their smouldering home, scared to think of the dying and dead, unable to do anything but go back into the fight. On they flew, out of the atmosphere, into deep space, once again, heading for the blackness.
It was a fairly even contest, fewer larger, more heavily armed ships, against many smaller Varlindran ships.
One large black ship was taking a pounding, its engines dead, just one cannon still firing. Five Varlindran ships were buzzing around it, taking potshots at their enemy.
Lance Dillow said, 'That one, Breezy. Help that one. Flare!'
Flare growled, 'Time to get serious.'
The Eye circled the embattled ship, Flare using her natural ability as a shooter to blast away the snapping Varlindran ships. Three caught by surprise were destroyed within two minutes, but more ships headed their way.
Rocky Ramshorn flew away from the battle, turned quickly around to attack from the rear. He did a barrel-roll to avoid the laser fire aimed at him, and the return fire wiped out another ship. They stayed with the big ship as the Varlindran ships took flight, to concentrate their fire power on another damaged enemy ship.
'Mine,' said Fawn Dillow.
Stella chased the tail-ender and hit it mid thrusters, stopping it dead, a second blast blowing it to pieces.
Then, as one, all the Varlindran ships raced away to the blackness, the large ships in pursuit. Twenty Varlindran ships had disappeared into the blackness, when the black ships opened fire together, but not at the ships, but directly at the blackness.
'What the hell are they doing?' Lance Dillow said.
Breeze said, 'I don't understand. Look. Something is happening to the blackness.'
The combined power of the huge ships was having an effect on the blackness. It began to glow and its outer edge crackled with a thousand lightning storms.
There were still thirteen Varlindran ships outside the darkness and they began attacking the black ships as the darkness was being destroyed.
'Our friends need back up,' said Lance Dillow.
It was a scrappy battle, with the stragglers being caught between two enemies. The Varlindrans were finding out what it was like to be hammered.
'Come on, Craggy,' said Toby Solvo. 'Hit something.'
'How about this, then.' One volley of laser fire split a varlindran ship in half and continued into the heart of another. 'Two for the price of one.'
'Now that was impressive.'
The barrage of fire on the blackness continued, then the blackness shrunk and died. The remainder of the Varlindran ships were mopped up and the battle was over.
'That was fun,' said Cragg. 'Now what do we do?'
Solvo said, 'look. Survivors are leaving the dead ships.'
Small vessels were leaving dead black ships, and entering ports in the undamaged ships.
They sat in si
lence for a moment, then Cragg felt movement of the ship.
'They're pulling us towards them.'
'Shoot them,' said Solvo.
Cragg said, 'I don't think so. In case you hadn't noticed, we are on the same side.'
'That ship. It's opening up.'
'Keep calm. They just want to say hi.'
'How can you possibly know that?'
'Because,' said Cragg, 'You and I would be dead by now if I were wrong.'
The top of the big ship, from the thrusters upwards, opened like an enormous clam. Slowly, the much smaller freighter was drawn inside, then the ship closed around them, swallowing them whole.
'Where are you going?'
Cragg adjusted his suit airflow. 'Outside to stretch my old legs. Coming?'
The airlock opened and Cragg and Solvo stepped down the ramp to the floor of the ship. Before they got another five paces, a series of small red laser lights hit them, causing Solvo to flinch.
'Relax,' said Cragg. 'They're just checking us for fleas.'
A small black ball appeared and floated over to them, stopping just one foot away from Cragg. 'Smile at the camera.' Cragg gave a wave of his hand and the probe backed away a couple of feet. Then, from a small opening, a three dimensional image appeared.
The creature was small, surprisingly so, considering the size of their ships. Perhaps three and a half feet long, nose to tail. It also stood on four legs, had a head that seemed far too large for its body, and, a human would probably describe the creature as being a lizard. Its skin was a rough looking hide, reddish orange in colour, its belly a greenish yellow. Its “hands” were an odd mix of something akin to human hands and long reptilian claws. Cragg thought they would be reasonably dexterous but you wouldn't want to be picking your nose with them. Red eyes moved independently, one staring at Solvo, the other at Cragg. The creature went closer to them.
'Just stay calm,' said Cragg, holding a smile.
The lizard sniffed them in turn, then it sat back on its hind legs and a stump of a short fat tail. The Lizard spoke.
'Which of you is Craggy?'
'Me. The good looking one.'
'It speaks English,' said Solvo.
Cragg shrugged. 'Can't be that hard. I manage it.'
'My name is Zixpahk Torstrix, from a planet called Graggos. Our race is known as Graggons.' Its long blue tongue rolled oddly in its mouth as it spoke.
'Delighted to meet you, Zix...Zixpa...Sixpack. I am Commander Dixon Cragg, and this is Captain Tony Solvo.'
'Toby.'
'No, I'm Cragg, you're Toby. Look. If you don't mind, I'm trying to have a serious conversation with my new best pal here. So. Sixpack. It would appear we are on the same side.'
Zixpahk did a peculiar rolling of his head, which could have meant either yes or no. 'We hate the Varlindrans. We have been enemies for thousands of years. They once tried to take over our planet. Many killed on both sides.'
'We too have lost many,' said Cragg. 'Have they gone? The Varlindrans?'
'For now. It will take time for them to create another of what you call the blackness. But they will return one day, and for that you must be prepared. We may not be here to help you next time.'
'Understood,' said Cragg. 'There's enough hardware out here to make use of, I reckon.'
'Yes. Use it. Use our dead ships, also. We must go, now. We have many injured. But...'
'Yes?'
'We have need of your help.'
'Anything. You name it, we'll do whatever it takes.'
'That is good to know. But now is not the time. We will let you go. One day we will return and we will talk of this help you can give us.'
Cragg nodded. 'I'll have some beer chilling for you. Listen. Sixpack. Feel free to visit whenever you wish. Maybe let us know in advance, so we don't accidentally shoot you.'
Zixpahk did the head rolling thing again. 'You will know when we will arrive. Goodbye.'
'Bye. Don't be a stranger. Come on, Tony.'
They entered their ship and closed the airlock. The Graggon's ship opened up and the freighter smoothly rose up into space. They all watched the the Graggons blast off, battle weary, back to their home.
Lance Dillow said, 'Craggy?'
'Hmm? Oh. Nice people. Probably help keep the flies down. Very friendly. Sort of made me our official ambassador to them. Got a bit of a ring to it don't you think? Ambassador Dixon Cragg. Yeah. I kinda like that.'
All Dillow could respond with was a low groan. 'Right. Home.'
Chapter 83
There was no fanfare when the seven ships landed. Nobody to greet them. Wreckage was everywhere, people, many in a daze, trying to hold it together to make sense out of chaos. Sixteen left the freighters, no banter, nothing to say. One battle was over, a bigger one faced them all. A man, bandaged and on crutches hobbled towards them. It was Potts.
'Tell me they've gone?'
'For now,' said Lance Dillow. 'We had help.'
'We heard...some of it. Most safe...mine. Safe. Out here...We lost...many. Still digging...trying to...'
Cragg could see a man on the edge of falling to pieces. 'Hey, Pottsy. You don't have do this all on your own. Misty? Is she...?'
Potts nodded. 'In the mine. We put most in the mine. Safe.'
Cragg put his arm around his old pal, relieved of the news of his wife. 'Pottsy. Come on. Let's find Anton.'
'Dead. Anton...crushed. Marcia...dead.'
It all hit Cragg hard. 'Jeez. Oh, crap. Lance. I'll take care of Pottsy.'
Dillow said, 'Ok. Looks like we have our work cut out. We're off to the mine, see if we can find people, see where to start.'
Knowing Misty was alive and safe somewhere, Cragg led Potts through the remains of the Bases. Little had escaped at least some damage. Fires flared up in some places. People were digging through the rubble, some with bare hands, hoping to find survivors, more often just adding to the body count. Everywhere was chaos, mayhem, with a strong smell of death.
In the medical centre, bodies were everywhere. Nurses and doctors, some bandaged and bloody themselves, were doing all they could. Dr Jill Hill appeared, carrying fresh bandages.
'Commander Potts. I've been looking for you. I said not to move.'
Potts just stared at the floor, lost, confused.
Cragg whispered in Hill's ear. 'He's cracking. Have you any sedatives or something? I'll look after him, but he needs...something.'
'Wait here.' She hurried off, returning with a small packet of pills. 'Two now, one every hour. Craggy. Don't let him self administer, right?'
'I said I'll take care of him and I will. Come on, Pottsy.'
Hill said, 'The mine. Most of the accommodation units have been flattened.'
'Mine,' said Potts. 'Must..go...mine.'
Cragg led Potts outside and found a spare working buggy, helped Potts into the front passenger seat, and he jumped into the driver's seat, then they headed to the main mine. Around the entrance to the mine, people were trying to help each other, looking after children and babies, wondering if there was food to eat.
Inside the mine it was the same. More scenes of confusion; babies and children crying. Then Cragg saw his wife.
'Misty. Thank God. You're ok.'
'None of us are that, Craggy. Tagg?'
Cragg shook his head. 'He needs to rest.' He held up the pills. 'He needs looking after.'
Between them they helped Tagg Potts to a relatively quiet and calm part of the mine, sat him down and gave him the medication.
He was just one of many broken humans needing putting back together. It would take time. Much time.'
Chapter 84
Two weeks later
There is nothing more magnificent than human beings facing adversity and working together for the better good. What was a daunting test of endurance, became a one step at a time rebuilding of their home. Two hundred and seventeen people had perished. Twenty three were crippled for life. Many more bore scars on their bodies, and deeper scars in thei
r minds. Fixing buildings was a monumental task by itself; restoring the humanity they had fought so valiantly for, would be ongoing for years to come.
Mars Commander Tagg Potts, mourning the loss of his wife and still finding his way without Anton Forbes, the other half of a formidable double act, had buried himself inside his mind for two weeks, oblivious of those around him, trying to help him. With care and love, he came out of his shell, and the long healing process began. He emerged from the mine, the home of thousands, two weeks after the attack, and squinted in the late summer sunshine. Birds were everywhere, and in the distance, somewhere in the jungle of Mars, wild dogs howled.
Potts leaned on his walking stick, tears in his eyes as he stared at the devastation. 'It looks bad, Craggy. Really bad.'
'Call it work in progress, Pottsy. We rescued most of the fish from the farm and they seem to be surviving the rivers and lakes. The hydroponics were badly hit, but coming along. We can feed everyone again. Any man and woman who can stand, carry, hammer and paint, have worked none-stop and we can already move the older ones out of the mine.'
All Potts could see was the damage. 'It looks bad. What do we do, Craggy? What do we do?'
Cragg could see his old friend was barely holding it together.
'What do we do? I tell you what we do. We don't make it as good as it was. We make it better. Right? We make it even better.'
Potts forced a smile. 'Yes. We make it better.'
Six months later
The prophecy Cragg had made of making their home better, hadn't been far off the mark. Potts had recovered his ability to govern, supported by a committee made up from many disciplines. Nobody lived in the mine; all had somewhere to call their home. Others had been relocated elsewhere. Even Big Bird had been turned into temporary accommodation for twenty families.